From Chief P.K. Johnson
Millbrook Police Department
On Saturday, February 8, 2025, Millbrook police responded to a residence in the 2700 block of Englenook Road regarding a possible burglary in progress. Responding officers were advised that the complainant had observed an individual, via surveillance camera, entering the back yard of the residence, having jumped the fence, and was going through her belongings in a shed adjacent to the residence.
Upon arrival, officers encountered an individual, later identified as Christopher J. Freeman, a 42-year-old Elmore resident, in the backyard of the residence in possession of a television set. Freeman was detained, later placed under arrest and charged with Burglary 3rd Degree. A detective with the department’s Criminal Investigations Unit responded and processed the scene. Freeman was transported to the Millbrook Police Department for processing and later transported to the Elmore County Jail, where he was placed in custody under a $15,000 bond.
I appreciate the prompt response of our patrol officers that responded to this call. They were able to quickly apprehend and detain the alleged offender and secure the scene for our investigative personnel to respond. As much as I resist the advent of today’s technology, I must say that often, more and more we are finding that businesses and citizens alike that utilize video surveillance systems greatly enhances law enforcement’s ability to respond to calls like this with a successful outcome. It helps not only our initial response, in that a criminal offense is occurring, potentially providing a description of the suspect/alleged offender(s), their location and possible direction of travel, it also documents the offense as it occurs, which may later be utilized as evidence in the prosecution of a case, as it moves through the judicial system.
As technology continues to progress, as well as citizens’ ability to have access to and acquire this type of surveillance equipment, the more difficult becomes for people to successfully commit these types of property crimes, which is great for businesses, citizens and law enforcement alike. The only people not benefitting are those who are committing these crimes, to whom I’d say this, People work hard to have their property and are willing to take the necessary steps to protect their property. Our officers stand ready to apprehend, arrest and prosecute those who continue to roll the dice in committing these crimes.
