Nov 24, 2014 3 min read

A Canonsburg man was arrested early Saturday on charges of burglary and theft for allegedly stealing jewelry from his mother’s Peters Township home and twice breaking into a neighbor’s home.

Jordan Clarke, 28, of 424 Blaine Ave., was taken into custody on the warrant obtained by Peters Township police after he allegedly was found with a gun that was stolen from his neighbor’s Canonsburg home earlier this month.

Canonsburg police Detective Sgt. Al Coghill said a member of the Washington County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force learned Friday from a confidential informant that Clarke was in possession of a gun. The informant gave police information that Clarke would be picked up in a vehicle in Valley View Terrace, giving specifics on the type of car.

Officers had the car under surveillance and said they saw Clarke get into the vehicle with an item that was wrapped up, later determined to be a shotgun. Officers Matthew Tharp and Scott Bashioum and Sgt. Don Cross followed the car, stopping it on Craighead. Police said Clarke initially gave the officers a fake name when asked about his identity.

Clarke allegedly admitted to Canonsburg police that he broke into his neighbor’s home on two occasions, Nov. 2 and 18.

“He told us that he took cash the first time and then the guns during the second one,” Coghill said.

Police said Clarke told officers he would look for residences where it appeared no one was home. He said he had been staying with a friend in Valley View Terrace because he knew police were looking for him on the warrant.

Peters police charged Clarke with theft and burglary. He is accused of entering his parents’ home on Pleasantview Drive in late August or early September and stealing his mother’s jewelry. Some of the items were sold at a business in Dormont. Police said he later admitted he had entered his parents residence on two occasions when they were not home.

During his arraignment Monday on the Canonsburg charges, which included theft, burglary, receiving stolen property, drug and firearms violations, Clarke told District Judge Jay Weller he is addicted to heroin or any opiate he can find.

“This is typically what we see of addicts,” Coghill said. “What is most alarming is when they trade guns for cash.”

Clarke also reportedly told police that he was desperate for money to buy heroin.

Two of the guns stolen from his neighbor’s home are still missing.

Coghill praised the cooperation from the task force.

“This came together quickly as a result of the task force sharing information they had,” Coghill said. “Residents in that area were concerned. Many of them are elderly and were worried about their safety and afraid they would be targeted next.”

Clarke is in Washington County jail on $85,000 bond. He was arraigned Saturday on the Peters Township charges before District Judge Larry Hopkins.