by Tahlia Ganser
A 28-year-old Sedro-Woolley man was charged Friday in Skagit County Superior Court in connection with an attempted burglary of the Burlington Kmart Tuesday night.
Burlington police say the man used his two young children to help him attempt to steal nearly $8,000 worth of goods.
Jesus Barragan is charged with second-degree burglary, first-degree theft and two counts of illegal possession of the drugs Clonazepam and Flexeril, according to Superior Court documents.
The affidavit outlines the following events:
About 10 p.m. Tuesday, Burlington police responded to an alarm at Kmart. When they arrived at the closed store, they saw a van with its doors open and motor running parked in front of the front entrance to the store.
An automatic door to Kmart was open, and two small boys walked up to the door from the inside the store. The 4-year-old and 7-year-old boys — arms loaded with merchandise — dropped the store items they were carrying when they saw the police. One ran back into the store.
Later, the boys’ father, Barragan, emerged with several store items in his hands, the affidavit states. He put them on the floor and gave himself up to the police.
He told police that he had recently lost his job and needed food for his children. The family had tried to steal jewelry and electronics, police said.
Court documents say the merchandise added up to nearly $8,000, and damage to the store totaled more than $2,000.
Barragan remains in the Skagit County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Police contacted Child and Protective Services to be sure the children have a safe place to stay.
• Tahlia Ganser can be reached at 360-416-2148 or at .
