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Business owner thinks more suspects should be arrested in alleged burglary

By Howard B. Owens

Han Bakker is following the case of Oakfield resident Michael L. Jackson with keen interest.

Jackson is accused of breaking into Holland High Lift, 10033 East Road, Bethany, and causing a great deal of property damage and stealing equipment and a truck.

Bakker owns Holland High Lift.

"We estimate (the alleged burglar) did about $60,000 in damage," Bakker said.

And according to Bakker, chief suspect Jackson wasn't working alone. One other possible suspect left a cell phone under a desk and two women were captured on video tape.

Bakker doesn't understand why the District Attorney's office isn't prosecuting the other suspects. He said he was told the D.A.'s office doesn't think there is enough evidence against the other three suspects to charge them.

The Batavian left a message this afternoon with an Assistant D.A. seeking comment.

The group of people, according to Bakker, broke into his office building on April 11 and trashed the place. They broke glass windows in doors, apparently to help them gain entry into other rooms, even though the doors were unlocked.

Apparently, they used their own bodies to break the window. Investigators, according to Bakker, found a good deal of blood in the building.

One of the reasons the D.A.'s office was apparently slow to seek an indictment against Jackson was investigators were awaiting the results of DNA tests from a Monroe County lab. No word on whether the lab results are in yet.

Jackson is accused of stealing a 2005 Ford Supercab 250. Bakker claims that Jackson drove the truck out on South Swan, striking a tree before trying to run it into the creek. 

Jackson is currently out of jail on $10,000 bond.

Bakker is concerned that Jackson, who reportedly left the state after the investigation into the break-in began, will not consider the bond sufficient inducement to stay in the area while awaiting trial.

"I doubt will ever get repaid," Bakker said.

Doug Yeomans

This really seems like a case of fumbles by the DA. Any lab in the country could've performed the DNA testing if Monroe county wasn't going to be able to meet the deadline. I realize that Genesee county probably has a contract for testing with the Monroe county lab but if they are so busy that justice is compromised, go to a different lab.

Sep 19, 2009, 9:43pm Permalink

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