A 35-year-old Pacific man was arrested for reportedly trying to get into cars at Eureka Auto Collision Center. He also allegedly was found with a substance believed to be methamphetamine, Eureka Police reported.
At about 2:40 a.m. Aug. 26, an officer allegedly saw the man lift at least two door handles on vehicles that were parked outside the auto repair business, 1023 W. Fifth St. The officer was surveilling the auto repair shop because of numerous tampering and stealing incidents at similar businesses in the city, Lt. Michael Tapp said.
When the officer asked the suspect why he was lifting door handles, he reportedly said he was trying to get into vehicles. After the man was arrested, the officer searched him and allegedly found a smoking device and a bag containing a white crystal-like substance in the man’s front pants’ pocket, the report said.
The man was taken to the Police Station, where he was booked. He was released with summonses to appear in Eureka Municipal Court for tampering with a motor vehicle and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the report.
Depending on the results of drug analysis, Eureka Police will seek a charge against the man through the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for possession of a controlled substance, Tapp said.
In November 2021, the Eureka Board of Aldermen passed legislation that made it illegal to lift door handles on vehicles that do not belong to you. Those arrested for lifting door handles on vehicles may be charged with tampering, a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.