An Erie man charged with breaking into a concession stand at UPMC Park and stealing alcohol and snack food on Tuesday night is now accused of committing a similar crime at the Erie SeaWolves home park four days earlier.
Erie police on Thursday charged 20-year-old Rodolfo N. Patten with felony burglary and four misdemeanor counts, including corruption of minors, accusing him of illegally entering UPMC Park with others and stealing alcohol on May 10.
Patten was charged on Wednesday, along with two juveniles, with committing a similar break-in and burglary at the downtown ballpark on Tuesday night.
Investigators said following Patten’s arrest in Tuesday’s burglary that they were looking into whether he was possibly involved in the May 10 burglary, in which police said ice cream, Twisted Tea, seltzers and “beer bats” were stolen.
What happened in the burglaries?
According to Erie police, four people were seen on video entering UPMC Park on the evening of May 10 by hopping a fence on the west side of the ballpark. The suspects were then seen walking around the park, checking coolers, before they entered a concession stand, Deputy Chief Rick Lorah said Friday.