Hill Avenue residents catch alleged burglar

EPHRATA - Two residents of a Hill Avenue home reportedly caught a man breaking into their residence.

Prosecutors charged Brett M. Mills, 22, of Moses Lake, with first-degree burglary and fourth-degree assault in Grant County Superior Court, according to court records.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antosz set Mills' bail at $20,000.

David C. Duncan, 63, and his son, Aaron D. Duncan, 39, were sitting in the home on Oct. 15 when the alarm system showed the garage door was opened, according to a Moses Lake police report. When they went into the garage, they noticed the door was opened.

When Aaron Duncan turned on the lights, he allegedly found Mills in the garage, according to court records.

David Duncan called 9-1-1, and the two men reportedly held Mills in the garage until police arrived.

When the officer arrived, he allegedly saw Mills push David Duncan, according to the police report.

Mills allegedly told police two stories. First saying he was walking a dog when it escaped, and he saw an open garage door. He reportedly thought the dog might have went into the garage and went inside. Mills allegedly later told the officer, he was at a friend's house when the dog escaped from the yard and was looking for it when he saw an open garage door.

Mills reportedly denied entering the garage to commit a crime, according to court records.