Theft, trespassing charges filed against man for talking tool box

PALMER — Alaska State Troopers arrested 34-year- old Jesse Lee Edwards on first and second-degree trespass, and fourth-degree theft charges following a Sept. 1 incident on Equestrian Street in Palmer.

According to court affidavits, a complainant contacted troopers to report a thin build male, wearing dark clothing, was attempting to enter neighborhood vehicles. The caller stated the male was seen walking down Equestrian Street a short time later. While patrolling the area, troopers state they saw a male matching that description, later identified as Edwards, get into the driver’s seat of an SUV. Police say they observed Edwards pilfering the contents of a center console and that he told them he was looking for a cell phone charging cord.

Meanwhile, the vehicle’s driver told police he didn’t know Edwards or hadn’t given him permission to be in the vehicle. After checking, the driver identified a silver Dremel tool box which he said did not belong to him. Troopers contacted a resident who told them that he thought the tool box was his and after checking an unlocked tool shed, found it missing.

Troopers state that a wet shoe imprint left on the tool shed floor matched the sole pattern of those worn by Edwards at the time they spoke with him. An additional charge of first-degree burglary was dismissed by prosecutors for lack of probable cause. He was remanded to Mat-Su Pretrial facility where bail was set at $5,000 plus a court-appointed third party.