Oct 12, 2022

Similar burglaries in 2 counties lead to arrest of Salina man

Posted Oct 12, 2022 4:51 PM

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post

A Salina man has been arrested in connection to burglary cases in both Saline County and Dickinson County.

In mid-September, a number of items were reported missing from a property in the 4100 block of E. North Street. Saline County Undersheriff Brent Melander said items missing included the following.

Glass bowls

Paintings

Antique clocks

Wrist watches

Statues

Saddles and bridals

Dressers

A BB rifle

Glassware

In all, the owners of the property estimated a total loss of approximately $70,000, Saline County Sheriff's Investigator Cody Trower, said.

On Thursday, a vehicle stolen out of Dickinson County was found abandoned in Saline County. A conversation between Saline County Sheriff's personnel and Dickinson County Sheriff's personnel while dealing with the stolen car revealed that Dickinson County Sheriff's personnel also were investing a Solomon burglary that was similar in nature to the one on E. North Street in Saline County, Trower said.

The next day, sheriff's investigators from both counties met to discuss the matter.

<b>Michael Kohman.</b> Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office
Michael Kohman. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office

Trower said Dickinson County Sheriff's investigators had developed a suspect and were planning to request a search warrant for the Salina residence of Michael Kohman, 42. The residence is located in the 300 block of N. 11th Street.

On Tuesday, Saline County Sheriff's personnel assisted Dickinson County Sheriff's personnel with the execution of the search warrant for Kohman's residence.

Trower said that while they were clearing the residence to make sure Kohman was the only person inside, Saline County Sheriff's personnel saw a large amount of the items that were stolen from the E. North Street location. He said that 70-80 percent of the items stolen from the E. North Street location were found in Kohman's residence.

During the execution of the search warrant, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia allegedly were found in Kohman's residence, Melander said. Additionally, it was believed that Kohman used the victim's own vehicle that was on the property to transport the items to a truck before returing the vehicle to the original location.

Kohman was booked into the Salina County Jail on the following requested charges.

●Burglary

●Criminal depravation of property

●Possession of methamphetamine

●Possession of drug paraphernalia

Requested charges in Dickinson County are pending. Both investigations are continuing.