A Delaware man was arrested after reportedly stealing a truck with over $12,000 worth of liquor with the alleged intention of selling the booze for cash to pay his drug-related debts.
According to reports, a 39-year-old man from Gaston had been struggling to pay his debts and was living in his automobile. On the morning of May 30, he was reportedly sitting in his vehicle outside the Cheers Tavern in Muncie when he spotted a liquor distribution box truck parked in front of the establishment. He allegedly concocted a plan to steal the vehicle and its contents, which were reported as being $12,546 worth of alcohol, and sell the spirits for the money he needed.
He reportedly disabled the GPS and camera in the truck and then allegedly drove away. The authorities were notified, but they did not immediately find the suspect. Officers from the Muncie Police Department were patrolling near the local Shriners Club, and they saw a truck matching the description of the one taken from the bar. They checked it out and confirmed that it was the vehicle that belonged to the liquor distribution company, but no one was found inside the truck.
The police saw a man crouching in a bush nearby, and they suspected it was the person who took the truck. They spoke with him, and the man allegedly admitted to swiping the vehicle. It was reported that he told them he was going to sell the liquor because he needed the money to pay off drug debts.
The man was taken into custody and booked into the Delaware County Jail. He is facing preliminary charges of auto theft, theft, resisting law enforcement, and driving while his license is suspended. According to records he is being held in lieu of a $20,000 bond.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.