Craddock blasts system that lets suspect roam free

A 15-year-old, with a residential burglary rap sheet, is roaming free, even though his fingerprint was found at the scene of at least one Madison-area home break-in. 

The situation came to light thanks to District 4 Metro Councilman Michael Craddock, who sent out an angry press release on Monday.

According to Metro Police, a series of home break-ins have taken place and the juvenile is the prime suspect. Police sought an arrest order for the boy from a Juvenile Court referee, but a petition requiring him to appear in court on Sept. 30 was issued instead.

“I can’t figure out for the life of me why they can’t arrest him,” said Craddock, a second-term councilman who is running for criminal court clerk next year. “The system is broken.”

Craddock said neighbors on Due West Avenue, where the break-ins have occurred are angry over the incident.

In his first press release, Craddock laid blame at the office of the District Attorney General. He responded with a second release, which stated he was wrong in his initial statement.

“Obviously the Police Department felt in the interest of public safety it was appropriate for this teenager to be arrested,” Metro Police spokesman Don Aaron said.

According to Craddock, as many as five homes have been burglarized in the neighborhood.

The juvenile was arrested for residential burglary in 2007 when he was 13.