Local man held on burglary charges

BONNERS FERRY — Local transient booked into Boundary County Jail early Thursday April 21 for two Felony burglaries. Shane R. Rucker, born 1983, was first contacted by BFPD at 4:04 a.m. after attempting to open the front door of the Rex Theater. It was noted he was wearing a dark hat, flannel shirt, black pants, and work boots.

At approximately 4:27 a.m., after speaking with Rucker, BFPD was called to the first burglary scene with a female who observed a male in the front seat of her boyfriend’s vehicle, parked in the driveway. The female approached the male and asked what he was doing in the vehicle; the male apparently responded with “he was sorry and just drunk”. The female grabbed him out of the vehicle and attempted to detain him but he escaped. The female gave a description of male with dark brown hair that was approximately shoulder length. She also stated he had a “scraggly” beard.

At approximately 5:06 a.m. BFPD was dispatched to a second burglary. The second female observed a male in her parent’s parked vehicle, also parked in the driveway. She identified the male as wearing a dark hat, flannel shirt, black pants, work boots, dark hair and he had a beard.

With the two witness’s descriptions, and the previous encounter with Rucker, there was reasonable suspicion that the male in question was Rucker. At 6:48 a.m., Rucker was spotted walking southbound on the sidewalk of the Highway. At this time, he was detained.

Rucker stated he had a pocket knife on him during the pat down, therefore the contents of his pockets were emptied. They included: two lighters, a silver pocket knife, a black Stanley punch tool, an Allen style wrench, broken glass, a 22-256 bullet casing, $3.52 in change and his Idaho identification card. There was also a silver flashlight in the front flannel pocket.

Rucker was transported to the BCSO lobby where he was separately, positively identified as the male by the two females; Rucker stood inside the office lobby with the females looking through the window. It was at that time; Rucker was placed under arrest for two separate accounts of Burglary.

May 6 was his first court appearance where he took the stand. According to Prosecuting Attorney Tevis Hull, during cross examination it was determined the third possible burglary was committed by Rucker due to Rucker’s admission of gum that was on his person from the third vehicle. Defense withdrew their request for bond reduction and prosecution requested and was granted a third Felony burglary charge. Rucker is currently being held on $40,000 bond.