On Wednesday, April 19, at about 7:30 in the morning, Dianne Batcho of the 6,000 block of Michigan Road north of Plymouth called the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and reported that she had observed a man in her basement. Once she saw the man, he fled from the residence on a black bicycle westbound.

Officers from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department along with the Indiana State Police quickly responded to the scene. A search was immediately started in an attempt to locate the suspect. Indiana State Police Officer John Hart located a white male subject, in the area of 6th and Oak Roads. The male subject was identified as William R. Swihart, age 29 of 6A Road in Plymouth.

During the investigation, it was revealed that William Swihart was involved in the Burglary and Theft of two houses in the 6,000 block of Michigan Road along with a house in the 13,000 block of 6A Road. It was also discovered that a building on South Center Street in Plymouth was also broken into.

William R. Swihart was arrested and booked into the Marshall County Jail for three (3) counts of Burglary as Level 4 Felonies, and three (3) counts of Theft, as Class A Misdemeanors. A case report is being completed and forwarded to the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office for review and formal criminal charges being filed. The bond currently for William R. Swihart is $25,000 cash.

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department would like to recognize that the quick response of several agencies working in harmony and having the same goal of service to the community is what assisted in catching and bringing the suspect to justice. The agencies that assisted in the investigation included the Indiana State Police, Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Plymouth Police Department, and the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office.

 Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed and that there is only probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. They are presumed innocent throughout the proceedings and are entitled to be represented by counsel and entitled to a trial by jury at which the State is obligated to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt before a judgment of guilt may be made.