Two teens charged in Monday apartment burglary that led to chase, school lockdowns

Hoover police have formally charged two Birmingham teens in a burglary that occurred Monday, March 21.

A 17-year-old boy told police he arrived at his residence at The Park at Wakefield Apartments around 11:50 a.m. and saw three suspects breaking into the apartment.

One of the suspects ran away and was captured a short distance away by a responding officer. The other two suspects left in a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis, and the 17-year-old got into his own vehicle and pursued them.

The suspects crashed into a utility pole in the 300 block of Shades Crest Road and ran away. Hoover police found one of them and arrested him.

“We’re very fortunate no one was injured during this incident,” Capt. Gregg Rector said. “The victim in this case also caused the whole area to be disrupted, due to him chasing the suspects through residential areas. They also caused several schools to go on lockdown.”

Detectives obtained warrants for the two suspects on Tuesday, and both were charged with third-degree burglary. Trendauris Raeshad Bellard, 18, and Roy Demetrie Purnell Jr., 19, were transferred from the Hoover Jail to the Jefferson County Jail. Bellard’s bail is set at $5,000, and Purnell’s bail is set at $2,500.

Police have identified the third suspect, who is 17 years old, and intend to obtain a juvenile petition for third-degree burglary from Jefferson County Family Court.

“The victim in this case is familiar with at least one of the suspects, and the burglary was not random,” Rector said. “They were looking for specific items, and we believe we know what those ‘items’ were.”