Authorities arrested a 32-year-old De Soto man for reportedly stealing a pickup and trailer from a De Soto business. The man also allegedly used the truck to commit another crime and crashed it twice before he eventually was taken into custody, De Soto Police Capt. Jeff Wynn said.
At approximately 6:30 a.m. July 11, De Soto Police got a call about the theft of the 1999 Ford F-350 pickup and 2001 Gooseneck trailer from outside SMCI (Sheet Metal Contractors Inc.), 1661 Veterans Drive.
“Officers watching surveillance video found that the items were stolen at approximately 1:20 a.m.,” Wynn said. “Later that day, the truck was found to have been used in the stealing of a toolbox from a Walmart in Cape Girardeau. Later that evening, the truck was in two accidents in Perry County. The trailer was not with the truck after it was initially stolen.”
Wynn said several law enforcement agencies teamed up to find and arrest the suspect later the same day in Cape Girardeau County.
“The truck was found at the Old Appleton exit in Cape Girardeau County,” he said. “The subject ran from the truck into woods nearby. (Law enforcement) set up a perimeter and took the subject into custody.”
Wynn said the suspect told officers he had hidden the trailer in Valles Mines. Police recovered the trailer July 12 at the spot the suspect indicated.
The truck “had some damage,” Wynn said.
He said he did not know if the items had been returned to the owner.
De Soto Police will seek charges against the man, Wynn said.