SEYMOUR, Ind. – The Seymour Police Department (SPD) arrested three people after an investigation led to the discovery of six pounds of marijuana and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stolen vehicles.
On January 30, law enforcement received information from the Mishawaka Police Department that a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee was in the area of W. Tipton Street, per SPD’s Lt. C.J. Foster. Officers went to 1999 W. Tipton Street and spoke with Johnathan Smith, 24, of Seymour.
Smith acknowledged it was at the residence and later produced a supposed receipt for the vehicle. A search warrant was granted and SPD located the Jeep, plus two other cars reportedly stolen from Indianapolis.
A second search warrant was obtained for additional evidence, leading to the alleged discovery of articles associated with auto theft like fob programming devices, items belonging to stolen vehicle owners, and evidence where vehicle ID numbers (VIN) had been manipulated.
Information gathered from the W. Tipton Street residence led investigators to a home on Sams Circle in Seymour. A third search warrant was granted and another stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee, over six pounds of marijuana, vehicle titles, and evidence of VINs being manufactured were supposedly found.
Smith was arrested on five counts of auto theft, all level 5 felonies, and dealing in marijuana.
On January 31, detectives obtained a fourth search warrant to go back to 1999 W. Tipton St. A Bobcat skid steer was recovered that had allegedly been stolen out of Owen County.
More people were apprehended as the investigation progressed. On February 16, Phillip D. Auel, 29, of Seymour, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit auto theft and dealing in marijuana. On March 4, Karen Miller, 27, of Seymour, was booked for conspiracy to commit auto theft, two counts of neglect of a dependent, and dealing in marijuana.
The estimated value of all the vehicles recovered is around $300,000 and the marijuana confiscated is estimated to have a street value of about $18,000.
