Published: November 10, 2009 09:33 pm      

Seven arrested in string of thefts at Huntsville store

Seven people were arrested by the Walker County Sheriff’s Office Monday in connection with a string of thefts at Huntsville’s Target store.

Nicholas Evan Yeager, 18, Jonathan Ethan Gonzales, 22, and Aaron Steven Zavertnik, 19, were arrested at the store by Detective Ryan Ringo of the Walker County Sheriff’s Office.

All three were charged with engaging in organized criminal activity. Yeager was also charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon and Gonzales and Zavertnik were additionally charged with theft.

Ringo was contacted by Target loss prevention officers after they observed the three suspects in the store. Ringo had been working with Target loss prevention in several recent shoplifting investigations.

In addition, Ringo was able to obtain warrants for three other individuals for associated shoplifting cases at Target. James Earl Yeager, 22, and Justin Glenn Hosea, 23, were also arrested at separate locations in Walker County. Both were charged with engaging in organized criminal activity. Hosea was also charged with theft after he was found to be in possession of stole property.

A third individual, Ashley Ann Hill, 22, surrendered to Walker County authorities on Monday after learning an organized criminal activity warrant had been issued for her arrest.

A seventh person, Cory Ray Gonzales, 19, was arrested for an outstanding burglary of a building warrant, and is said to be a known associate of the six organized criminal activity suspects.

According to Lt. Charlie Perkins of the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, all seven individuals are known associates, and all are still being investigated in other incidents that could lead to more charges.

Ringo said the suspects had frequented the Target store in order to shoplift various small electronics, including digital cameras, MP3 players and Bluetooth headsets.