Birmingham, AL 09/16/2016
Roger Myles Gilbert
Just before 10:00 am yesterday deputies responded to a report of a burglary in progress at a residence in the 1900 block of Powder Plant Road near Bessemer. It was reported that the homeowner could see the suspect on his surveillance system inside the home. The suspect was described as a white male wearing khaki shorts and a white shirt. He was seen on surveillance cameras leaving the residence in a maroon four door car just before deputies arrived.
Deputies arrived at the home to find the back door had been kicked in. A description of the suspect and his vehicle were broadcast to other deputies in the area. A Sheriff’s detective recognized the description and developed a suspect. The detective learned that the suspect was staying at a hotel on the Bessemer Super Highway near Academy Drive in Bessemer.
Deputies and Bessemer Police went to the hotel in an effort to locate the suspect and the vehicle. As they were pulling into the parking lot the suspect was seen running from the rear of the hotel into a wooded area. A perimeter was set up and a Bessemer Police K9 that was already on the scene tracked the suspect. He was taken into custody hiding in the woods.
While deputies were tracking the suspect through the woods another deputy located and stopped the suspect vehicle as it pulled into the hotel parking lot. It was being driven by the suspect’s girlfriend. Items stolen during the burglary were found in the car.
Roger Myles Gilbert was positively identified as the suspect who committed the burglary. He was charged with Burglary 3rd Degree and Theft of Property 1st Degree. He remains in the Jefferson County Jail with bond set at $45,000.