BEDFORD – A Boonville man was arrested on Thursday after Bedford Police Officer Brian Sorrells responded to a report of the theft of a vehicle in the 1000 block of Stevens Avenue behind Lowe’s.
The victim told police he had seen his vehicle drive away from the scene toward 16th Street.
Off-duty Bedford Police Officer Michael Bell advised he was behind the vehicle which was traveling north on State Road 37 at 5th Street
Officer Bell initiated traffic at Salt Creek bridge and was assisted by Major Jeremy Bridges, Sergeant Justin Dodd, and Officers Derek Blackwell Blackwell and Robert Harris.
Officer Sorrells made contact with the vehicle owner and confirmed it was the stolen vehicle.
The victim reported he and his co-workers were at Palms Day Spa and Salon on Stevens Avenue when he noticed someone driving away in his white 2001 Ford van. The victim initially called one of his coworkers to find out if they had driven off in his van. Once it was confirmed his co-worker had not driven off in his van, he contacted the police. The victim admit the van had been left unlocked with the keys in the center console cup holder.
The person identified as the individual that drove away in the van was 30-year-old Thomas Moss, of Boonville.
Keshia Marie Calhoun, who had been reported as a missing person on Feb. 2, 2023, was also inside the van.
Moss told police that he and Calhoun were arguing outside of Hampton Inn when he says an unknown male gave him the keys to the van. Moss told police he didn’t know the man but thought the man felt sorry for him and Calhoun.
Moss told police the unknown man told him he could borrow the van to go to the gas station to charge his phone as long as he returned with the vehicle.
Calhoun told police Moss had picked her up at the Hampton Inn and didn’t know where Moss had got the van.
During an interview at the Bedford Police Department, Moss admitted he had stolen another vehicle from the Evansville area and had broken into local storage units behind Lowe’s. He told police some of the stolen items were in his backpack and inside the vehicle he had stolen from Evansville.
Moss told police that the stolen vehicle from Evansville, a 2020 Ford Explorer, was parked at the Hampton Inn on Becky Skillman Way.
Evansville Police contacted the registered owner of the vehicle and confirmed that the vehicle had been stolen. Evansville Officer Dimmett advised he would obtain a statement from the victim and forward that to the Bedford Police Department.
Police found the vehicle at the Hampton Inn with the doors open and items strung around inside and outside of the vehicle.
The stolen Ford Explorer was towed to Stone City Collision and was released to the rightful owner.
Calhoun told police her vehicle broke down in Evansville and Moss showed up in a blue 2020 Ford Explorer and the two traveled to Bedford to the Hampton Inn.
Calhoun was not charged and released.
Police found a checkbook that belonged to a Bedford resident. Moss admitted the checks belonged to a friend’s family member.
Moss told officers he has a drug problem and that Calhoun had nothing to do with stealing the vehicles or the items from the storage units.
Moss faces two counts of auto theft and two counts of residential entry.
