By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
A recent fight between two men in Hays, led to the discovery of stolen property taken from area storage units and the subsequent arrest of both.
After initially being called for a disturbance between Richard Kody Lyon, 29, and Alvino Damian Almerez, 41, Hays, police learned Almerez had threatened Lyon with a machete, according to Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler.
"While investigating that crime, the patrol officers and detectives uncovered they had also been committing storage unit break-ins," he said.
Lyon was arrested on suspicion of burglary, theft and criminal damage to property.
Almerez was arrested on suspicion of burglary, theft and criminal damage to property and aggravated assault.
While a portion of the recovered property has been returned to owners, Scheibler said some is still with the department.
"If you haven't checked your storage unit lately, please check it and if you are missing property, please give us a detailed list," he said.
Those reports can be directed to Hays Police Department Detective Dave Gillan from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday at (785) 625-1030.
"He will need a good description of your stolen property to cross-check with the recovered property to see if it has been located," an announcement from the department said. "Serial numbers, model numbers and brand names along with good descriptions of the missing item will be important to give to Detective Gillan, along with when your storage unit was broken into and the location of your storage unit."
While the work continues to get the stolen property back into the hands of owners, Schiebler praised the work of the officers.
"(It was) a really good job by the patrol officers investigating the initial report, but also that began to expand off into other criminal activity and they were able to follow up on those also," he said.
And the investigation also continues.
"We suspect there may be other people involved, so if anybody has any information they should contact Detective Gillan," Scheibler said.
While the men are currently detained in the Ellis County jail, he said, they are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.