Two brothers suspected of burglarizing “several” businesses in the region have been arrested in Durango, police said Thursday. Christopher Harrell, 25, and Brian Harrell, 27, both of Durango, were being held at the La Plata County Jail on $10,000 bail and $50,000 bail, respectively. The brothers were arrested earlier this week in connection with a burglary Monday morning at the Phillips 66 gas station on Jenkins Ranch Road, said Durango police detective Bob Brammer. The Durango Police Department used a variety of “tools” to link the brothers to the gas station burglary, including evidence collected at the scene and video surveillance, said Chief Jim Spratlen. “We did utilize the K-9 unit,” Spratlen said. “We utilized about every special tool or unit that we had, and we’ve been using those tools for months,” Spratlen said. The brothers are suspects in other burglaries in the region, including Archuleta and La Plata counties, Spratlen said. Five agencies in two counties have been working together to investigate the burglaries, Brammer said. Police were vague about the scope of the activity, but said the burglaries involve commercial businesses. “It’s really under investigation at this point,” Spratlen said. “We’ve got a few more leads to tie up.” At the time of his most recent arrest, Brian Harrell was free on bail on suspicion of burglarizing stores Dec. 17 inside the Durango Mall at 800 South Camino del Rio, police said. Anyone with additional information about the brothers’ activity is asked to call Brammer at 375-4734, or to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers at 247-1112. “There are people out there who know about what is going on,” Brammer said. “It’d just be nice to have them come forth either to us or Crimestoppers.”

The Durango Police Department on Tuesday arrested a man suspected of a parole violation stemming from a murder in Arkansas, authorities said.  Patrick Ellis, 35, was taken into custody without incident about 4 p.m. at the Days End, 2202 Main Ave., said Capt. Micki Browning, spokeswoman with the police department.  Browning did not immediately have information about Ellis’ murder conviction in Arkansas.  Police were notified of Ellis’ location and his parole violation by a Crimestoppers’ tip, Browning said.  Because Ellis was considered a possible threat, police used members of its tactical team to assist with the arrest, Browning said.  She did not immediately know whether Ellis was in possession of any weapons.