One suspect is in custody and a second is being sought in connection with Tuesday night spree in Chadron that saw a pickup stolen and more than 30 thefts from motor vehicles.
Chadron Police Lt Rick Hickstein says officers Thursday night arrested 18-year old Caleb Scherbarth of Chadron on 2 felony charges…Theft by Unlawful Taking and Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, and misdomeanor Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. Scherbarth is being held in the Dawes County jail on $50,000 bond.
Hickstein says a tip information from multiple witnesses in Chadron led to a search warrant being served for Sherbarth’s home about 5:00 Thursday afternoon. Officers found some of the items taken in the Tuesday night thefts as well as small amounts of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and illegal fireworks.
Chadron police issued citations unrelated to the thefts to two other residents of Scherbarth’s home. 38-year old George Barron and 36 year old Shannon Barron were both cited for keeping a disorderly house, with George Barron also cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal fireworks, and less than an ounce of marijuana.
Hickstein says it’s “very worthwhile when citizens come forward and provide tip information to law enforcement, which leads to the recovery of stolen property and the arrest” of those responsible…adding that “by working together with our community, we can make Chadron safer.”
Hickstein also says that the investigation into the thefts is continuing, focusing on the second individual still being sought by police.
The case began Tuesday night when a Chadron resident reported 3 suspicious suspects near his vehicle. Officers discovered it had been broken into and items taken, so they began searching for the suspects…uncovering over 30 thefts from vehicles.
While the search for the suspects was underway, a red pickup was reported driving recklessly and leaving a string of trash along the road to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Authorities believed the pickup was related to the thefts and contacted Oglala Sioux tribal police, who found the pickup about 10:00 the next morning…about 2 hours after the owner reported it stolen.
Chadron police say a stolen pickup recovered this morning on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation was apparently used in a string of more than 30 thefts from motor vehicles last night.