Photo by: Connie Mierkey
A 33-year-old man was charged yesterday with conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and first-degree burglary in the DU area.
The suspect, identified as Tarius L. Simes, was arrested Saturday morning just off campus near the High Street and Wesley Avenue intersection.
Police did not say whether they suspect Simes is the man involved in more than a dozen burglaries and robberies in the DU neighborhood since fall 2008.
“The university is very pleased that the police department has made an arrest,” said Jim Berscheidt, associate vice chancellor of university communications. “We hope that this does bring an end to this series of break-ins that is occurring.”
The investigation is ongoing, according to the police and more details about Simes are to be released today.
“He is still being held in question to see what, if any, involvement he has in the burglaries,” said Leslie Branch-Wise, DPD spokeswoman.
At approximately 4:44 a.m. Saturday, officers observed a suspicious vehicle near the 2400 block of South High Street, where the most recent burglary took place.
When approached by officers, Simes fled on foot. At 7:40 a.m., Simes surrendered to officers and was taken in for questioning.
During the burglaries and robberies, victims described the intruder as a black man, around 5 feet 11 inches tall, wearing a hooded sweatshirt concealing his face, but at the time, police have not issued a physical description of Simes.
There were three burglaries in the homes of women in the same DU neighborhood this month.
Saturday’s arrest follows an incident Thursday when a female DU student woke up to find a man in her bedroom. The intruder woke her by shining a flashlight in her eyes, claiming he had a gun and demanding she roll onto her stomach and cover her head with a pillow. Then, the man stole from three laptops, a camera and jewelry.
Their house was broken into three weeks earlier. Three TVs, a laptop, DVD player and iPod dock were stolen.
Another invasion was reported at the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority house on Sept. 3, when a female resident reported a man entered her room while she was sleeping and similarly awoke her by shining a flashlight in her eyes. The suspect stated that he had a gun, and demanded she roll onto her stomach and cover her head with a pillow. He then stole property from her room.
The latest incident is a part of a pattern of similar burglaries in the neighborhoods surrounding campus. In numerous instances, the suspect has broken into homes of female students, shining flashlights in their eyes, stating he had a gun, forcing the victims to cover their heads with a pillow, then robbing the house for electronics and jewelry.
Although the suspect is still in custody, the university still advises students to use caution and keep windows and doors locked and stay aware of surroundings.
