A 37-year-old Festus man has been arrested in connection with the theft of a motorcycle from a home in the 2000 block of Dorman Road in the Festus area, officials report.
The purple 1997 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was stolen between June 8 and June 19, while the homeowner was away. In addition, a black 1994 Jeep Cherokee was stolen, along with six guns – a Ruger 357 Magnum revolver, a Rock Island .38 Special revolver, a Ruger .22-caliber handgun, a Colt .44-caliber revolver, a Hi-Point .40-caliber handgun and a Davis .380-caliber handgun. In all, the stolen items were valued at $22,025, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reports.
It looked like the thief took a screen off a porch window, which was unlocked, to get inside the home and then stole the items, the report said.
The victim’s son went to check on the home since his father was away and noticed the items missing. The son also found the back door and the garage door unlocked, which previously were locked, according to the report.
During the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office learned that the Festus Police Department was pursuing someone riding the stolen motorcycle, the report said.
Festus Police Chief Tim Lewis said that at about 9:45 p.m. June 19, an officer spotted the man riding the motorcycle on Sixth Street and acting suspiciously. The man fled, but a short time later, the man wrecked the bike at Sixth and Mill streets.
In addition to being found with the stolen bike, the suspect was found with a .380 handgun, which was illegal for him to possess since he already was a convicted felon. The man also was wanted on outstanding warrants from Arnold, Pevely and Crystal City, Lewis said.
Festus Police arrested the man, who was taken to an area hospital for treatment, for unlawful possession of a weapon and resisting arrest. After the suspect was booked, Festus Police turned him over to one of the other law enforcement agencies that wanted him, Lewis said.
The Sheriff’s Office suspects the man in the theft at Dorman Road, but as of Friday (June 24), there were no arrests in the case, said Maj. Ralph Brown.