Three men, Michael Walters, Edward Walters, and Chester Buntin are in custody after posting a craigslist ad offering stolen property.
On September 4, 2018, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office detectives spoke with a burglary victim who indicated a pool table had been stolen from his home located in the 46000 block of N Cattle Drive, Ash Fork. Also missing was a gas powered generator and items on the property had been damaged. The victim was currently in the process of selling the home and discovered the recent burglary after being notified by persons visiting the site. The victim found suspects forced open several doors to gain access. During a check of internet classified advertising sites, the victim saw his pool table pictured in an ad on Craigslist. The pool table had several distinguishing features recognized by the victim.
Detectives located the Craigslist ad which had been posted on September 1 and advertised the pool table for a cost of $300 and included a contact phone number. The picture of the pool table also showed a white pick-up truck and a tattooed male smoking a cigarette – see photos. During the course of the investigation, detectives located witnesses to the burglary who were in the area to look at homes. The witnesses saw 3 male suspects with the pool table loaded in a white pick-up truck. They were shown the photo from Craigslist ad and recognized one of the males from the Ash Fork property and the truck. During the burglary, the suspect vehicle license plate had been covered with a rag.
Detectives, posing as customers, were able to arrange a meeting with the seller in the 1100 block of Poco Lane, Chino Valley. The seller was identified as 23-year-old Michael Walters from Prescott Valley. After observing the stolen pool table at the location, detectives left and returned with a search warrant. Michael was not present, but quickly located in the 1100 block of W Justray Ranch Road, Chino Valley along with 2 additional suspects – 42-year-old Edward Walters of Prescott Valley and 21-year-old Chester Buntin from Chino Valley.
Michael claimed he had permission from a 3rd party to take the property and was assisted at the Ash Fork home by Edward – his dad-, and Chester.
The pool table and suspect vehicle were seized. The suspects were booked into the Camp Verde Detention Center. Michael’s charges include Burglary and Trafficking in Stolen Property with a bond of $5000. Edward was charged with Burglary with a bond of $3000 and Chester’s charges include Burglary, Trafficking in Stolen Property, and Possession of a Controlled Substance with a bond of $5000.