Police Reports 7-7-23: doorbell footage shows attempted break-in

A convicted felon was allegedly seen attempting to break into a residence on video footage.

On June 30, Tahlequah Police Sgt. Lane Cobb was called to Cambridge Circle due to reports of an attempted burglary. Dispatch provided officers with footage of the suspect from a Ring doorbell. The footage showed the man attempting to open the back door of the residence until he noticed the camera. Officers drove the area looking for the man when Officer Bryan Swim located John Hinkle and detained him. Swim found a makeshift glass pipe that had white and black residue on it on the man and he admitted to using the device to smoke methamphetamine. The officer also found a plastic bag that contained a crystal-like residue that he believed to be meth, as well as a phone that was supposedly stolen from a woman. Swim noticed a motorcycle that was parked nearby and Hinkle claimed it belonged to him. Hinkle said he was going door-to-door, asking for money so he could put fuel in the motorcycle. The man admitted to being at the back door of the residence on Cambridge Circle, but he denied trying to gain entry. The homeowner wanted to press charges and Hinkle was transported to the Cherokee County Detention Center for booking. Swim informed Cobb that the motorcycle belonged to the woman whose phone was in Hinkle’s possession, and she advised the motorcycle was stolen as well. Hinkle, a convicted felon, was booked for possession of a controlled dangerous substance after a former felony conviction, possession of drug paraphernalia, attempted burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, and knowingly concealing stolen property.

Officer Ohavyah Soto was on routine patrol June 25 when she observed a defective brake light on a Cadillac. The officer conducted a traffic stop and met with Joshua Ryals, Cinnamon Ensminger, and a juvenile passenger. Soto stated in her police report that Ensminger appeared drowsy or under the influence and Ryals claimed that the woman was “just tired.” Ryals gave the officer consent to search the vehicle. Ensminger told Soto she smoked marijuana three hours before the traffic stop. The woman said she thought she had some marijuana in her purse. Soto looked in the purse and found a metal pipe with a burnt substance on it and a bottle of prescription medication that belonged to another person. As Soto began searching the vehicle, Ryals advised there were syringes in the glovebox and other places. Four syringes were found in the vehicle. Ryals was transported to jail where he was booked for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Ensminger was booked for public intoxication, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled dangerous substance without a valid prescription, and possession of marijuana. A referral was made to the Department of Human Services due to the juvenile’s legal guardian refusing to take custody of her.

On June 26, Officer Soto was dispatched to Taco Bell on Downing Street for a disturbance in which a woman was reportedly threatening and cussing at employees and refusing to leave. Soto arrived to find Tina Friend claiming that the business stole money from her. The officer went to detain Friend after she began yelling at the manager, but she resisted and was taken into custody. The manager said Friend came inside the restaurant upset because she was reportedly charged extra with her online order. Friend was trespassed from the property and booked for disturbing the peace, obstruction, and resisting an officer.

Officer Jess McClure conducted a traffic stop June 27 on a vehicle that had no license plate. The driver, Bret Kellogg, handed the officer an Oklahoma identification card. Kellogg was wanted and his driver’s license was revoked. He was booked on the charges.