2 men arrested in Cedar City after allegedly trying to break into their former residence twice in 1 day

File photo of a Cedar City Police vehicle, Cedar City, Utah, April 27, 2019 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

CEDAR CITY — Two men were arrested in Cedar City on Sunday on suspicion of burglary and other charges after they allegedly tried to break into a duplex where they used to live, twice on the same day.

The suspects have been identified in charging documents filed in 5th District Court as Uriel Ramirez Rodriguez, 29, and Jose Eduardo Sanchez Mejilla, 32. As of Thursday, both continue to be held without bail in Iron County Jail.

According to the probable cause statements filed in support of the duo’s arrests, police were first dispatched to a residential address on 1225 North in Cedar City at approximately 5:15 a.m. Sunday.

“The victim stated two people who used to live there had smashed out the windows and also threatened to kill the victim,” a Cedar City Police officer wrote in the report, adding that a total of three people were inside the house at the time of the incident.

One woman, who reportedly had recognized the men’s voices, identified them by name and told police they used to live at the residence. Another occupant of the home reported he had seen the two men driving by the house several times in the days leading up to the incident.

Stock image | Photo by Althom/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

“I noticed the windows leading into the bedrooms were totally smashed out,” the officer wrote in the report. “There was also significant damage to the door of the house. The door was made of metal and had deep, noticeable dents in it, which would require significant force and use of some sort of object.”

Later that same day, at approximately 4:20 p.m., police were once again called to the same address, on a report that two men were once again breaking windows and yelling threats.

According to the charging documents, one of the men, later identified as Ramirez Rodriguez, was seen by officers in front of the house holding a black metal tube that reportedly matched the square holes that had been punched into the metal door. He was arrested and taking into custody, as was Sanchez Mejilla, who witnesses said had also been breaking windows with a pole. Police reportedly apprehended him as he tried to flee the scene.

According to their respective charging documents, Ramirez Rodriguez and Sanchez Mejilla each face three third-degree felony counts: two counts of burglary of a dwelling and one count of property damage ranging from $1,500-4,999. Both men also face two counts of disorderly conduct, an infraction. In addition, Ramirez Rodriguez faces two counts of making a violent threat, a class B misdemeanor.

Both suspects also have immigration holds placed upon them, according to Iron County Jail booking records.

This report is based on statements from court documents and law enforcement officials and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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