CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man has been accused of burglarizing a local bar and stealing $845.
Johni Dezmond Durnell, 20, was charged with burglary, and felony criminal trespass, as well as misdemeanor counts of theft by unlawful taking, retail theft and false identification to law enforcement by Clearfield Borough police on Dec. 3 in connection to an incident at a Clearfield bar.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, when the place closed Nov. 23 at 2 a.m., there was $1,000 in cash in the bag. Later that morning, another employee counted the money and realized $845 was missing.
Surveillance video of that night allegedly showed Durnell drinking an energy drink at the bar and then taking the cash from a bag in a locked cabinet.
The owner noted that Durnell is not allowed in the bar even when it is open.
Police suspect that Durnell removed the keys to the business and the cabinet from the backpack of an employee.
When officers went to Durnell’s apartment, which is above the business, they received permission to enter from another resident.
After they found Durnell in the back, he reportedly identified himself as Johni Perasal, which the officers knew was a false name. They then transported him to the police station for further questioning.
During their interrogation, he claimed he would never steal from the business, according to the report.
Durnell waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday during centralized court sending the case on to the court of common pleas.
He is being held in the county jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.