Two Arrested in Douglas Co. Double Burglary

Two men have been arrested and charged with multiple felonies after a burglary investigation by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office recovered several firearms, bottles of liquor, tools, and miscellaneous items. Austin D. Nelson, 24, of Ava, and Nathanial E. Atkinson, 20, of Mansfield, remain in custody on felony burglary and firearm stealing charges. 

Law enforcement began an investigation after a family member of Nelson’s contacted the Sheriff’s Office on August 13 to report that his home had been burglarized sometime in the night. Two deputies responded to the Ava residence and discovered there was no forced entry or ransacking throughout the house, but that several items of value had been taken while someone was present in the residence. According to a probable cause statement filed by Corporal Taylor Wallace of the DCSO, Nelson was able to gain entry to the home using his key on a side door without anyone detecting his presence.

At approximately 1:00 a.m. on August 14, an alarm call dispatched deputies to the Redbank Store not far from the burglarized residence. Several bottles of liquor and miscellaneous items were stolen from the store. Surveillance footage identified two male suspects, confirming the suspicions of the family members who suspected Nelson was involved in the burglary of their home.

Sheriff Chris Degase worked the store burglary and learned of the suspects’ whereabouts in Mansfield. Corporal Wallace and Deputies Roberts and Reed traveled to Mansfield where the local police department had located Atkinson’s vehicle, which matched the vehicle seen on the surveillance footage from Redbank Grocery. 

Corporal Wallace detained Atkinson at a residence on Nettleton Ave. In plain view in his vehicle were multiple bottles of unopened Jack Daniels with retail stickers still on them along with several firearms and an impact drill. When the vehicle was officially processed for evidence, deputies recovered more than a dozen items that matched the description of things taken from the residence and the retail store. 

Inside the residence, law enforcement discovered clothing that matched what the suspects wore in the surveillance video as well as tobacco and CBD products believed to be stolen from Redbank Grocery. 

In an interview with law enforcement, Atkinson openly admitted to his involvement in both burglaries. He was charged with two separate burglary charges and four charges for stealing firearms. He remains in custody at press time on a $15,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear for a bond reduction hearing on August 27 before the Hon. Elizabeth Bock. 

Nelson was on felony probation for second degree burglary for a 2016 incident. His charges for this month’s burglaries were bound over on August 20.