An Indianapolis man was arrested after police say he hit a Franklin man and stole his car.
Jacob Dale Rieman, 44, was arrested on several charges including: robbery, a Level 2 felony; battery causing bodily injury, a Level 5 felony; auto theft, a Level 6 felony; and driving with a suspended license, a misdemeanor.
The victim told Franklin police Rieman struck up a conversation with him while he was cleaning his minivan Sunday evening in the Franklin Auto Care parking lot, 575 Lemley Street, according to a Franklin Police Department report.
The victim couldn’t recall the man’s name, but said he was roughly 50 years old with a white mustache and white shirt, according to the report.
The victim said he and Rieman talked for about an hour before Rieman, who rode up on a bicycle, asked for a ride to a place the victim can’t recall, the report said.
After the victim refused to give him a ride, Rieman pushed him to the ground and punched him in the face with a closed fist, the victim said.
Rieman drove off in the victim’s minivan, according to the report.
About 9:50 p.m., the victim walked to the drive-thru at a nearby fast-food restaurant to report the incident and seek medical attention, the report said.
When police arrived, the victim was bleeding from his nose and holding the back of his head, according to the report.
The victim was checked at the scene then taken to Franciscan Health Indianapolis where he has since been discharged, a hospital spokesperson said.
Franklin police and sheriff’s deputies recovered the stolen minivan. A deputy spotted the vehicle while on patrol at State Road 135 and Whiteland Road in Bargersville and stopped it, according to the report.
Rieman was driving the vehicle. He was arrested.
In an interview with police, Rieman said he borrowed the car with the victim’s permission. He said he intended to get something to eat and drive to the westside of Indianapolis to buy marijuana, the report said.
Rieman also told police the victim was standing when he drove off and that he did not punch or push him, according to the report.
Reiman has similar charges and convictions of battery and theft dating back to 1997.
He was most recently released in March from the Monroe County jail after serving a sentence for a burglary conviction, according to online court records.
Rieman also served a 69-day sentence last year at the Johnson County jail for resisting law enforcement and two counts of criminal mischief, after a December 2019 multi-county car chase involving another stolen car.
He is being held at the jail on $35,500 bond.
