One truck theft reported in Greenwood Monday has lead police to evidence of three more.
Jonathan K. B. Bailey, 39, of Indianapolis was arrested Monday on felony charges of vehicle theft, possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor charge of driving with a suspended license and a warrant for a Shelby County probation violation.
Formal charges are still pending but the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office is preparing to submit two charges of vehicle theft, said Travis Wampler, a detective with Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation began Monday at 7:27 a.m. when a blue Chevy Colorado was stolen from the 1300 block of Wentworth Court, Greenwood. The vehicle was reported stolen after the owner left it running unattended in the driveway, the police report says.
A vehicle fitting the description of the truck was spotted by a Johnson County deputy about two miles south of the home near the intersection of State Road 135 and Whiteland Road, the report states. The deputy observed the vehicle making an abrupt lane change during the freezing rain event and pulled the car over, the report states.
The driver, identified as Bailey, did not have his license on him and further did not know if the vehicle had a registration, he told police. Bailey alleged it was his friend’s vehicle and he got it after meeting up with the friend at Home Depot, the report states.
The deputy informed Bailey the truck was reported stolen and arrested him without incident, the report states.
Deputies found methamphetamine in Bailey’s wallet and two sets of car keys and a vehicle registration in his pocket, the report states. A saw blade was also found in Bailey’s possession, the report states.
Bailey’s phone had several unread text messages and the GPS was set to a home in the 7400 block of Whiteland Road, Bargersville, the report states.
At the home, deputies found a 1996 green GMC Sierra, which was parked behind the home, as if to hide it, the report states. The registration found in Bailey’s pocket matched that vehicle, Wampler said.
Wampler questioned Bailey about the incident and the car keys found on his person. Bailey told Wampler his “current hustle” is stealing cars and catalytic converters, the report states.
Bailey informed him that it is hard to say where the vehicles matching the car keys were stolen from because he has stolen at least 20, the report states. Bailey did remember that the green truck was stolen from a gas station on Harding Street in Indianapolis, the report states.
Wampler is still investigating associates that may have helped Bailey and other car thefts he may be connected with, he said.
One set of car keys are to a General Motors SUV, which has a Greenwood Storage key chain and a leather lanyard, Wampler said.
The other set is for an unidentified car with a blue Fox Racing lanyard, he said.
The sheriff’s office is working with other agencies to connect these keys to vehicles and those vehicles back to the owner, Wampler said. Tips can be offered at 317-346-4654 or [email protected].
Charges for Bailey are currently on a 72-hour hold and he remains in the Johnson County jail on $2,000 bond.
