Sheriff identifies Centralia burglary suspect

One of two men wanted by the Centralia Police Department for a business burglary early Saturday was arrested Monday afternoon after a chase.

Boone County Sheriff’s deputies took Joshua M. Skouby into custody Monday afternoon after the chase on suspicion of second-degree assault, resisting arrest, stealing and first-degree property damage.

A woman was hurt when the vehicle involved in the chase crashed, but the male burglary suspect who was riding in the vehicle got into the driver’s seat and drove off from authorities, deputies at the scene said. Detective Tom O’Sullivan with BCSD said deputies had reason to believe Skouby forced the woman out of the car. A deputy injured his knee while chasing Skouby, but the injury was not serious, according to O’Sullican. Centralia police said Skouby was one of two suspects wanted in the Saturday morning burglary of a laundry mat.

Police Chief Robert Bias said officers got the burglary call at about 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

“Officers responded and found that there had been a burglary at a local business called Jodie’s Laundry Mat in town,” Bias said.

Laundry mat owner Hoppy Van Marter said the biggest thing that happened to his store was vandalism.

“They tried to get into the machine, but it has two padlocks in it,” Van Marter said.

He said he could see from his video cameras that the burglars went back to their car to get a hammer.

“Come back and beat the living crap out of the side panel, punched holes in it, knocked the doors off, knocked the glass out,” Van Parter said.

He said he believes the suspects stole about $500.

The store is equipped with several cameras that was able to take close-up photos of the suspects.

Police ask anyone with information to call 573-682-2132.