Tuesday, May 5th, 2020
Man breaks into fire department, calls EMS
By Sydney Albert
MENDON - A Mendon man has been charged after reportedly breaking into the village fire department and then calling from the chief's phone for emergency help after cutting his hand during the break-in.
Gabriel G. Spradlin, 35, pleaded not guilty in Celina Municipal Court on Monday to criminal damaging or endangering, a second-degree misdemeanor, and criminal trespass, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, after reportedly breaking into the department on Friday night.
Spradlin reportedly was arrested after breaking a window to gain access to the department and then using a phone in the fire chief's office, according to Celina Municipal Court documents.
A Mercer County Sheriff's Office report indicated dispatchers received the initial call at about 9:41 p.m. Capt. Doug Timmerman said Spradlin had used the phone in the fire chief's office to report that he was bleeding from injuries suffered while breaking the window.
Spradlin was reportedly transported to Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater, where he received stitches for a cut, before he was transported to the Mercer County jail.
He has been released on a recognizance bond with the condition that he live at an address in Rockford and not consume any alcohol or drugs. He is scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing at 2:15 p.m. June 3.
