During an interview, the teens told police they believed the church was abandoned and no one wanted the things they took. RJ Manus, & Dylan Robertson, each 18-years-old, are each charged with felony burglary, and free on pre-trial release.
Metro Nashville Police responded to a call of two people breaking into a building connected to the first Baptist Church of West End, at 625 39th Ave. North, just before 9 p.m. Responding officers found someone had forced entry into the building and were informed the suspects were associated with a halfway house next door.
Officers located an open window at the halfway house and could see numerous items of property belonging to the church inside the bedroom. Officers knocked on the door of the room, which belonged to RJ Manus, and asked him about the burglary. Manus was brought to West Precinct, along with his codefendant, Dylan Robertson, and both signed waivers and confessed to the crim. The pair stated they believed the building was abandoned and no one wanted the property they took.
Pastor Jordan Ivey of the church made arrangements to reclaim the property, and Dylan Robertson and RJ Manus were transported to booking, charged with felony burglary, and freed on pre-trial release.
