Multi-County investigation leads to arrest of Winamac man suspected in Marshall County burglaries

A multi-county investigation spanning four Indiana counties has resulted in the arrest of a Winamac man suspected of committing a series of burglaries in the southern part of Marshall County, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department announced Wednesday.

The investigation began when Marshall County Sheriff's Department detectives started looking into several recent burglaries in the southern portion of the county. A break in the case came when the Starke County Sheriff's Department notified Marshall County officers that a boat and trailer stolen from one of the burglarized residences had been located in their county. Marshall County officers recovered the stolen property and, through further investigative work, identified a suspect.

Investigators utilized Flock License Plate Recognition systems to identify a vehicle believed to have been used in the commission of the crimes. Those leads eventually pointed officers to a residence in Medaryville, in Pulaski County. Detectives filed a search warrant through Pulaski County, executed the warrant, and recovered numerous items that had been stolen from residences in Marshall County.

Michael Allen Huff, 29, of Winamac, was arrested Monday, July 20th, at approximately 7:05 p.m. and faces two counts of burglary and two counts of theft. His cash bond was set at $50,000.

The investigation was led by Detective Sergeant Jonathan Bryant and Patrolman Cullen Smith of the Marshall County Sheriff's Department. The case involved cooperation between Marshall County, Pulaski County, Starke County, Fulton County, and the Winamac Police Department.

Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is a mere 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.