LOGAN, Utah, May 11, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A Smithfield man has been charged with more than a dozen counts of stalking, criminal mischief and theft in incidents involving his former girlfriend.
Luke James Champlin, 25, is charged with:
- Six counts of stalking
- Four counts of criminal mischief
- Three counts of theft
- Failure to stop at the command of law enforcement
Police arrested Champlin on May 2 outside the Logan apartment his ex-girlfriend shares with three roommates.
According to a probable cause statement, the victim first believed she was simply being “pranked” in late April when an oily substance was poured over her car and a local repair shop determined the excess oil had not been caused by a leak. Oil also was poured over a roommate’s car.
Other activities reported include the theft of porch light bulbs from the apartment on three occasions, and the explosion of multiple firecrackers near the door.
The victim also reported she received multiple email notices that she had been signed up for prescriptions, with information including her name, address and birthday that had been provided to the companies involved.
Superglue was applied to the driver’s door of her car, the victim said, and also to three of her tire stem valves.
The victim and her roommates then installed a surveillance camera, which captured images of a male using a milk-type jug to pour a oil-or gas-type substances on the apartment’s door mat. Later that night, the camera captured a firecracker being thrown toward the door mat.
The probable cause statement says the liquid has not been identified, but officers believe it to be flammable, and speculate that the firecracker explosion could have been an attempt to start a fire.
The detective found multiple firecrackers, which appeared to be of the same type the victim found on the porch on previous dates.
The victim identified Champlin as a possible suspect, saying his appearance and mannerisms matched those of the person caught on surveillance video. The woman said she had dated Champlin for about 6 months before the relationship ended in February.
Detectives staked out the apartment due to concerns that the incidents were escalating, as was the threat to safety, the probable cause statement says.
While staked out one night, the detectives noticed a man approaching the apartment, then crouching down. He then walked away, but returned, officers say, and police ordered him to stop. The man ran, but police soon found a nearby vehicle like that driven by Champlin, and ran the plates, learning the car was registered to Champlin’s father.
Champman was taken into custody and advised of his Miranda rights, and declined to speak with police without an attorney present, the statement says.
