Man faces auto theft charges

COX

A Heritage Lake man has been arrested and charged with multiple auto theft charges.

On Wednesday, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Indiana State Police officers arrested John R. Cox on a Putnam County warrant charging him with burglary and auto theft.

Cox, 28, of 449 Gettysburg Drive, was arrested without incident in Bainbridge and transported to the Putnam County jail where he is being held without bond.

The charges include burglary of a business, a class C felony; auto theft, class D felony; and two counts of attempted auto theft, a class D felony.

According to Trooper Chris Harcourt, investigating officer from the Putnamville Post, Cox was in a relationship with a Coatesville woman. On the early morning hours of Jan. 22, he had allegedly been drinking.

The woman wanted to break off the relationship and Cox had made several phone calls and text messages to her in an attempt to talk to her about it. Cox then told the female he was going to see her and apparently left his apartment and attempted to steal a 1994 Pontiac Grand Am at 320 E. Main St., Bainbridge, without success. Cox then allegedly attempted to gain entry to a 1999 Chevrolet at 301 East Main St., again without success.

Police allege Cox then walked to Bainbridge Auto Sales at 303 W. U.S. 36, where he allegedly pried open the door of the auto sales trailer and removed five sets of keys to vehicles in the parking lot. He then was able to unlock a 2004 Toyota Camry and drive it to Mooresville, to the female's place of employment.

When the female left her place of employment at 6 a.m., Cox began to follow her, police said. Cox was driving in a very reckless and erratic manner and while northbound on CR 800 West in Hendricks County; his reckless driving resulted in a collision with a tree.

Cox was transported to Hendricks County Hospital where he submitted to a chemical test. The chemical test has been submitted to the Department of Toxicology for analysis.

Investigating officers were Trooper Chris Harcourt and Trooper John Myers, Indiana State Police, assisted by Bainbridge Town Marshal Rodney Fenwick.