Alliance vehicle burglary suspect in custody

ALLIANCE -- At about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, BNSF Police Special Agent Cody Buskirk received a report of a suspicious person trespassing on railroad property.

While checking the area, Special Agent Buskirk observed an individual matching the description of the auto burglary suspect near Cheyenne Avenue and Second Street.

Alliance Police Officers were dispatched to the scene and made contact with the suspect, who stated he was a transient that had arrived in town by hopping a train a few days prior. The suspect did not have any identification. Although the individual resembled the suspect seen in the burglary photos, officers needed to conduct further investigation to confirm his identity.

The suspect agreed to show officers where he had been sleeping and keeping his belongings. After being patted down for weapons, the suspect was transported to the location he described as his camp. While there, he provided conflicting identification information and continued to claim he had no documents either on him or at his camp.

BNSF security cameras were reviewed and showed the suspect trespassing on railroad property. At that point, the suspect was placed under arrest for trespassing and transported to the Alliance Police Department for further questioning.

Officers were later able to positively identify the suspect through AFIS fingerprint technology as Anthony Kluesner, 57. Kluesner is a registered sex offender, a convicted felon, and has an extensive criminal history spanning multiple states and 40 pages in length.

Further review of additional camera footage in the area led officers to several bags that Kluesner had hidden. Inside, they located clothing matching what he was wearing at the time of the burglary, as seen in photos and videos previously released by the department, as well as his identification. Kluesner also had more than $700 in cash on his person, which was seized as evidence.

Kluesner is currently being held at the Box Butte County Jail on a $10,000 bond, facing the following charges:

• Trespassing

• False Reporting

• Felony Theft

• Possession of Stolen Firearm(s)

“Although I am aware that rumors were circulating as early as yesterday afternoon, our officers needed to positively identify this suspect and gather as much evidence as possible prior to charging him, in order to build a strong case for prosecution,” Chief Leavitt said. “I am proud of our officers’ efforts and appreciate the partnership with BNSF and Special Agent Buskirk for his assistance.”