A 22-year-old Herculaneum man was arrested for allegedly trying to steal a tractor-trailer from Hopson Lumber Co. in De Soto on Wednesday morning (April 10), De Soto Police Chief Jeff McCreary said.
At about 7 a.m., the Broad Building Supply Co. truck was at Hopson Lumber, 918 S. Main St., for a delivery, McCreary said.
“The driver (a 57-year-old Russellville man) was making a delivery at Hopson’s and while standing at the back of the trailer, he observed someone jump in the tractor-trailer and take off,” McCreary said.
The suspect drove off in the truck towards East Pratt Street, but he apparently had trouble driving it and knocked down a stop sign and an old utility pole. The stop sign was at South Main and Miller Street. The utility pole was at Moulton Street and Pratt Street. No one lost power, McCreary said.
He said the truck was damaged and the suspect got out of it near Upper Plattin Road and ran away.
“It was a pretty short chase,” McCreary added.
The suspect was found in nearby woods and was arrested. As of Friday (April 12), the suspect had not been charged, McCreary said.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office helped De Soto Police with the call.