2 juveniles charged as adults in West Wayne burglary
The two 15-year-old boys accused of burglarizing a West Wayne Street home Friday evening, May 5, have been charged as adults by city police.
The home’s resident, who returned to the house after being alerted to the intruders via his security system, confronted the teens and was able to take a gun from one of them, according to police. The two duked it out before police arrived.
Braden Campbell, of Lyndora, and Jaydon D. Watt, of Butler, were charged Monday, May 8, with felonies burglary, robbery and conspiracy.
Campbell was charged with additional counts of felonies conspiracy, aggravated assault and firearms not to be carried without a license as well as misdemeanors reckless endangerment, simple assault and resisting arrest.
Police were dispatched to the home for a burglary in progress at 6:53 p.m.
Once on scene, officers discovered the resident, Dustin Deal, in an altercation with Campbell on Beckert Avenue. A handgun was observed in the roadway nearby, police said.
Police said Campbell was asked to put his hands behind his back, but did not comply and continued rolling around to avoid being placed into custody.
Through two Taser deployments and the efforts of multiple officers, Campbell was taken into custody.
A PlayStation 5 owned by Deal was discovered in Campbell’s backpack and returned, police said.
Later interviews with Deal revealed that exterior cameras relayed footage to his wife’s phone of two teens entering while the family was out to dinner.
Deal told police he returned home and found Campbell in his attic. Campbell pointed a handgun at Deal when he was discovered, police said.
According to the affidavit, Deal took the gun and escorted Campbell outside.
Campbell then grabbed the gun from Deal, and a scuffle ensued before officers arrived.
Police said the handgun was found to belong to a relative of Watt. That relative was able to identify Watt as the second juvenile in the security footage.
Watt had asked to be picked up by this relative near where the burglary occurred, according to the affidavit.
A second PlayStation 5, also owned by Deal, was found when Watt was taken into custody.
Both juveniles were arrested Friday and placed in Butler County Prison. Campbell is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, and Watt is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail.
As of Monday, preliminary hearings have not yet been scheduled.
