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Last updated on Wednesday, June 27, 2018
(BLOOMINGTON) - A Bloomington man was arrested Sunday after he stole a running car from a gas station and found a sleeping teen in the back.
Bloomington Police arrested 33-year-old Thomas Jamerson, of 1201 West Allen St., on charges of auto theft and theft. He is being held in the Monroe County Jail on a $2,500 cash bond.
Police were called at 5:25 a.m. reporting a silver 2002 Toyota Camry with a teen girl sleeping in the back seat had been stolen from the Circle S gas station, at 2110 N. Walnut Street.
The girl's boyfriend and his brother had been inside the gas station getting drinks and snacks when they saw someone drove the car away. The teens told police they tried to chase after the car, that was last seen traveling north on Walnut Street and then turned west onto the Ind. 45/46 Bypass.
The girl told police she awoke to a stranger with tattoos on his arms and neck driving the car. She screamed and that is when the stranger told her he would take her back and then pulled the vehicle over parked at a house near the 800 block of Winding Way and North Kinser Pike. He stole a book bag, an iPhone 8 and chargers and ran from the scene. The teen then took the car and drove south on Kinser Pike, where Monroe County Sheriff deputies found and stopped her.
After reviewing the Circle S surveillance footage, an officer who was familiar with Jamerson, was able to identify him as the man who stole the car.
Officers found Jamerson standing near a convenience store in the 100 block of East Winslow Road early Monday morning and detained him for questioning, Jamerson admitted he had been drinking and it was his birthday and he stole the car, but didn't realize the girl was in the vehicle.
Police then went to a home on North Kinser Pike owned by Cheri Hazel, who claimed at first she did not know Jamerson. Police searched the home and found the stolen backpack but not the phone.
Police also located meth, several needles and other drug paraphernalia. They arrested Hazel on charges of possession of meth, drug paraphernaila and maintaining a common nuisance.
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