Homeowner walks in on burglary; man arrested on $15,000 warrant

A Fairbanks homeowner walked in on a burglary in progress on Aug. 19. Troopers say the homeowner found Arther Chesley burglarizing the residence, told him he was calling troopers, and Chesley left in a black Subaru. Troopers responded to the area but were unable to find him.

On Aug. 26, a $15,000 felony warrant was issued for Chesley on charges of burglary in the first degree and theft in the fourth degree. The bond had to be posted in cash in full. Alaska law defines fourth-degree theft as theft of property worth less than $250.

The Alaska State Troopers Criminal Suppression Unit tracked him to a residence off Hess Avenue and arrested him on Aug. 27, the day after the warrant issued. He was remanded to Fairbanks Correctional Center.

The account comes from one trooper dispatch, AK26084206, which does not say what was taken or whether the homeowner was harmed.

The charges are accusations, and Chesley is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.