A Wewoka businessman captured a burglary suspect on his property and held him until police were able to take him into custody.

Jeremiah Kelly Gayler, 34, of Wewoka, was arrested June 12 and charged with second-degree burglary and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

According to an affidavit, Capt. Joshua Kelley of the Wewoka Police Department responded to a call involving a possible burglary in progress at Moody’s Oilfield Service, which had been burglarized a few days prior.

Upon his arrival at Moody’s, Kelley discovered foot tracks around a company vehicle and reviewed security camera footage that showed a male suspect on the property clad in a dark jacket, an orange/red face mask and a hat. Kelley and business owner Jim Moody concluded that the suspect was still there, so Kelley began conducting a search of the grounds.

As Kelley made his way across the property, he could hear Moody yelling, “show me your hands now. This is not your property. Get on the ground!” Kelley called for assistance and went back to the original scene and found Moody standing over the suspect, who was lying on his stomach with his arms outstretched. An orange/red face mask and hat were on the ground by the suspect, who was wearing a dark shirt.

According to the affidavit, the suspect identified himself as Jeremiah Gayler and began apologizing to Moody. When Kelley asked Gayler if he had been on the property when someone tried to break into the shop a few days earlier, Gayler said that he had.

According to the affidavit, Kelley transported Gayler to the Seminole County Jail. During a pat-down, Kelley discovered a baggie containing a substance believed to be methamphetamine on Gayler. When asked by Kelley why he was on Moody’s property, he allegedly replied that he was looking for anything he could scrap to make money. Gayler was booked into the jail without further incident.

According to court records, bond was set at $10,000 and Gayler is due back in court on July 1.