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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

A vehicle fire in Maplesville has been determined to have been used as a distraction while two suspects broke into a nearby pharmacy.

One suspect has been identified by Maplesville Police as Gabriel Lapatrick Nunn from Ensley.

“As of June 11, 2021, felony warrants have been issued for a Gabriel Lapatrick Nunn,” Chief Robbie Autery said. “Mr. Nunn is charged with arson, burglary third (degree), theft of property second (degree) and criminal mischief.”

Autery said Nunn is also a suspect in a pharmacy burglary in Centreville and has several warrants in Jefferson County.

The vehicle fire occurred at Maplesville Service Center on June 1. According to a press release, Maplesville Police received a call about the fire at around 8:40 p.m.

“Soon after the officer’s arrival at the service center, we received another call of an alarm at the Maplesville Pharmacy,” Autery said. “Upon arriving at the pharmacy, it was discovered that a front window had been busted out. It was quickly determined that the two incidents were related. We know that the vehicle was set on fire to distract our police officer from the break in at the pharmacy.”

Autery said the suspects called 911 and then waited until police responded to the fire to break into the pharmacy.

Video surveillance showed two suspects in action and a third waiting in a vehicle.

“The investigation is ongoing to identify the other two males that were involved,” Autery said.

The hope is that evidence at the scene and possibly information from the other suspect will lead to identifying them.

“As I have said before and have made known, those who have the criminal mindset need not to look to Maplesville as a place to commit crimes,” Autery said. “We will utilize every available avenue within the law to aggressively pursue them.”