Eureka Police arrested a 41-year-old St. Louis man for allegedly trying to steal a catalytic converter from a pickup at Midwest Motors. The man already was wanted on warrants from several other law enforcement agencies, Eureka Police reported.
At about 12:40 a.m. June 20, an officer saw a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle parked near a locked front gate at the auto dealership, 1400 S. Outer Road. When the officer approached the motorcycle, she saw the man standing near it, and he appeared to be putting something into a saddle bag, the report said.
The man told the officer he had stopped at the gate because the motorcycle was sputtering. The officer verified the man’s identity and discovered he was wanted on warrants. In addition, his license was suspended, Eureka Police reported.
The man was arrested on the warrants, and another officer arrived, searched the motorcycle and reportedly found a reciprocating saw, four blades and two batteries. The officer believed one of the batteries had recently been used to power the saw because it was warm, the report said.
An officer searched the dealership’s parking lot and found two bent saw blades under a 2022 Dodge Ram 4500. The officer also discovered part of the pickup’s catalytic converter had been cut away. The cost to repair the pickup was estimated at about $2,600, according to the report.
The man allegedly could be seen in surveillance video under the pickup before police arrived. He was booked and held for the other law enforcement agencies, the report said.
Eureka Police will seek charges against the man through the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for destruction of property, trespassing and attempted stealing, Lt. Tom Wille said.