Burglar on probation busted for similar crime

The Daily Inter Lake

The owner of a car dealership on U.S. 2 in Evergreen discovered a man breaking into his business early Friday morning and restrained him until Flathead County Sheriff's deputies could arrive.

Samuel Robert Hundley, 20, is being held in the Flathead County Detention Center on suspicion of burglary until formal charges from the County Attorney's Office are filed.

The owner of Hot Wheels Auto Sales, whose residence is attached to the business, was awakened about 2:30 a.m. Friday by the sound of someone rifling through the dealership's office, according to Flathead County Undersheriff Pete Wingert.

The alleged burglar, later identified as Hundley, was observed poking through a desk and had removed two speakers from their boxes, ostensibly to steal them, Wingert said.

After he was interrupted, Hundley reportedly tried to bolt out a window, but the dealership's owner physically restrained the suspect and called 911.

Hundley was on probation at the time of his arrest.

He had been ordered to serve a three-year deferred sentence in March after pleading no contest to felony attempted theft in January.

Deputies previously arrested Hundley on suspicion of burglary on Sept. 15 at Rudy's Autosound in the 1500 block of Montana 35.

Authorities responded to the business after a silent alarm was triggered. Upon arriving, they noticed a side door had been pried open. Deputies entered the building and found Hundley inside. He was filling a cardboard box with routers, drills and an air nailer.

Hundley, who was not an employee of the store, was apprehended before anything could be taken.