A Vallonia man was arrested about seven hours after he stole a vehicle and a camper Tuesday morning, police report.
Shaun Lee Gasaway, 38, faces Level 6 felony charges of automobile theft and theft along with misdemeanor charges of driving while suspended prior, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a property-damage accident.
The incident began when a local resident called police at 7:32 a.m. Tuesday to report a damaged travel trailer was found on their property in the 2500 block of West State Road 258 in Seymour.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Department Officer Adam Nicholson said he was en route to the residence when the department received another call at 8:47 a.m. from a resident who reported his 2001 Ford Excursion and a travel trailer had been stolen in the 4700 block of West State Road 58.
The owner met Nicholson on State Road 258 to confirm he was the owner and that the travel trailer had been damaged after it was stolen.
A third caller reported to police at 9:32 a.m. they found a blue moped on their property next to the residence where the vehicle and trailer had been stolen.
Nicholson contacted the registered owner of the moped, and a woman said she had recently sold it. That led Nicholson to the new owner on West Brown Street in Seymour, who said Gasaway had borrowed it Monday but had not returned it.
Nicholson began the search for Gasaway by speaking with local residents, and attempts to locate him were made in Freetown, Medora, Seymour and Vallonia.
Around 2 p.m., Nicholson received an anonymous tip that Gasaway had left the Vallonia area and was heading north on State Road 135. Brownstown Police Chief Tom Hanner and county Officer Mitch Ray assisted in attempting to locate Gasaway in that area.
Nicholson spotted Gasaway at the intersection of U.S. 50 and State Road 135. Nicholson conducted a traffic stop and arrested Gasaway. Police said Gasaway was intoxicated when he was arrested.
The Excursion and travel trailer were returned to the owner.
Gasaway was booked into the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown at 4:40 p.m. without bond.