A burglar accused of waving at witnesses while making his getaway was tracked down by officers from two Valley cities and a police K9 unit.
Court records show on April 18 around noon, five residents in the area of 67th Avenue and Cactus Road saw a man climb over a backyard wall with two black bags. As he walked up 67th Avenue, he waved to them as they watched.
Some witnesses called police, while one of them followed the man, later identified as 29-year-old James Joseph Galligan III. The one who tailed Galligan told police he saw him look through the bags and then jump over another wall and into a neighborhood.
Officers from Glendale and Peoria surrounded the neighborhood and began searching. Galligan was reportedly seen by officers throwing the bags over another wall then climbing over.
Police found and cornered Galligan in a backyard, hiding in an orange tree. The police dog pulled him down from the tree.
Galligan was treated for bites to his forearm and leg. Police later found the black bags hidden under a large bush. Inside the bags police say they found stolen items including credit cards taken from a victim in the neighborhood.
Galligan refused to speak to officers. He is currently on parole for selling stolen property.
He's being charged with burglary.
