2 Arrests Connected To Multi-County Thefts In Ind., Mich.
January 7, 2017 at 5:42 a.m.
By Staff Report-
Officers from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department and the North Webster Police Department are working with several other law enforcement agencies after the arrest of two local men. Frank Bailey III, 41, North Webster, and Michael Nicholas Watson, 27, Leesburg, were arrested Thursday and preliminarily charged with felony theft, burglary and auto theft. Bailey additionally was charged with operating a vehicle while never licensed and felony auto theft.
The pair had been part of a large-scale theft ring that has grown to involve potentially four additional suspects that had committed crimes in Noble, Steuben, Starke and Pulaski counties, along with two counties in Michigan.
Kosciusko County detectives stated that officers have recovered two side-by-side UTV’s, eight ATV’s, six trailers, snowmobiles, go-carts, golf carts, motor-cross motorcycles and mini-bikes. Some of the items are believed to have yet been reported stolen by the actual victims.
Detectives stated that additional arrest may be forthcoming and from other county agencies as the investigation continues.
Bailey is being held in the Kosciusko County Jail on a $15,710 bond, whereas Watson is being held on a prosecutorial hold with no bond, according to a news release from the KCSD.
Officers from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department and the North Webster Police Department are working with several other law enforcement agencies after the arrest of two local men. Frank Bailey III, 41, North Webster, and Michael Nicholas Watson, 27, Leesburg, were arrested Thursday and preliminarily charged with felony theft, burglary and auto theft. Bailey additionally was charged with operating a vehicle while never licensed and felony auto theft.
The pair had been part of a large-scale theft ring that has grown to involve potentially four additional suspects that had committed crimes in Noble, Steuben, Starke and Pulaski counties, along with two counties in Michigan.
Kosciusko County detectives stated that officers have recovered two side-by-side UTV’s, eight ATV’s, six trailers, snowmobiles, go-carts, golf carts, motor-cross motorcycles and mini-bikes. Some of the items are believed to have yet been reported stolen by the actual victims.
Detectives stated that additional arrest may be forthcoming and from other county agencies as the investigation continues.
Bailey is being held in the Kosciusko County Jail on a $15,710 bond, whereas Watson is being held on a prosecutorial hold with no bond, according to a news release from the KCSD.
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