Squatter Burglar Caught

DAYTON - A transient man who is suspected of breaking into a Dayton church preschool and may also have broken into several homes in town during the past two months is in custody.

Daniel Baxter, a 34-year-old drifter with ties to Montana, California and Pennsylvania, was arrested by Columbia County Sheriff's deputies late Thursday afternoon after the officers discovered his hiding place in the basement of an empty home owned by Dayton's Community Bible Church on South Second.

quot;Baxter is the primary suspect in the ongoing investigation of a string of burglaries reported over the past several months in Dayton,quot; according to a statement from the Sheriff's office.

The statement said Baxter was arrested when he tried to flee from his hiding place. He is suspected of two counts of burglary and third-degree assault.

The first sign something was going on at the church came on Monday when church officials reported a burglary at the preschool building, saying the suspect had taken food meant for children, turned up the heat to 75 degrees and left the lights on.

More details to come in the next print edition of The Times.