SALISBURY, Md.- Police have arrested a Salisbury man accused of trying to pry open the safe of the Salvation Army's church building located at 407 Oak St. in Salisbury.
Salisbury police said that on Sunday morning officers responded to a reported burglary at the church. According to investigators, officers learned that an employee arrived to unlock the building for church services when he observed a man attempting to pry open a safe with a crow bar. The employee approached the man who police say ran out of the building and fled the scene.
A K-9 track was conducted by the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office. During their investigation, the officers determined that the same man allegedly entered the church the day before and asked if anyone had found his cellphone and wallet. Authorities said the man made numerous requests for the employee to check the safe for his property. The employee obtained the man first name and phone number and informed him that he would be contacted if his property was found. Detectives continued with the investigation and identified the man.
Police said that during an interview with the man, identified as 20-year-old Willie Lee Hope Jr. of Salisbury, he took responsibility for the crime and was taken into custody. Hope was charged with second- and fourth-degree burglary and malicious destruction of property and turned over to Wicomico Central Booking.
