Indiana National Guardsman Arrested After Allegedly Stealing, Pawning Military Supplies
May 20, 2021 at 9:38 p.m.
Indiana National Guardsman Arrested After Allegedly Stealing, Pawning Military Supplies
By Amanda Bridgman-
Derrek Michael McKay, 29, of Marion, was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail at 6:17 p.m. Tuesday and charged with theft, a Level 6 felony.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed May 3 in Kosciusko Superior Court II, on March 1 a Warsaw Police Department detective was contacted by a captain at the Indiana National Guard who said the Guard had been conducting an internal investigation into the theft of supplies and equipment being stolen from the armory.
The captain told the detective that McKay was pawning military equipment and supplies to the trading post in Marion and that McKay had presented a memorandum signed by another Guard captain authorizing the sale of the items to the Trading Post.
According to court papers, that memorandum was reviewed and found to be forged with a signature at the bottom of the document.
The affidavit alleges that between late 2019 and December 2020, McKay pawned military equipment and supplies totaling $7,700 that had been paid out to McKay.
The items the Guard says were pawned include helmets, kits, speakers, ammo cans and camping cots.
The Guard also provided police with a list of items that were stolen.
The total monetary loss to the Indiana Army National Guard is listed at $13,804.14, according to court papers.
As a result of the investigation, according to the affidavit, McKay has a pending charge of forgery, a Level 6 felony, in the Grant County court system.
When police spoke to McKay, according to the affidavit, he allegedly admitted to pawning the items and said, “I understand I have made a mistake and just want to make it right and continue a career in the ARNG. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone or waste anyone’s time. I love this organization and want to do whatever I have to do to make this right.”
His bond was set at $5,250.
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Derrek Michael McKay, 29, of Marion, was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail at 6:17 p.m. Tuesday and charged with theft, a Level 6 felony.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed May 3 in Kosciusko Superior Court II, on March 1 a Warsaw Police Department detective was contacted by a captain at the Indiana National Guard who said the Guard had been conducting an internal investigation into the theft of supplies and equipment being stolen from the armory.
The captain told the detective that McKay was pawning military equipment and supplies to the trading post in Marion and that McKay had presented a memorandum signed by another Guard captain authorizing the sale of the items to the Trading Post.
According to court papers, that memorandum was reviewed and found to be forged with a signature at the bottom of the document.
The affidavit alleges that between late 2019 and December 2020, McKay pawned military equipment and supplies totaling $7,700 that had been paid out to McKay.
The items the Guard says were pawned include helmets, kits, speakers, ammo cans and camping cots.
The Guard also provided police with a list of items that were stolen.
The total monetary loss to the Indiana Army National Guard is listed at $13,804.14, according to court papers.
As a result of the investigation, according to the affidavit, McKay has a pending charge of forgery, a Level 6 felony, in the Grant County court system.
When police spoke to McKay, according to the affidavit, he allegedly admitted to pawning the items and said, “I understand I have made a mistake and just want to make it right and continue a career in the ARNG. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone or waste anyone’s time. I love this organization and want to do whatever I have to do to make this right.”
His bond was set at $5,250.
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