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Indianapolis woman arrested for stealing acquaintance's truck
An Indianapolis woman found herself in the Putnam County Jail early Tuesday morning after stealing a truck and veering off the roadway several times.
At 11:30 p.m., Putnam County Dispatch Center received a 911 call from Mark Elliott of 5480 S. CR 300 West, Greencastle, stating a female acquaintance had stolen his blue Dodge pickup.
A police dispatch of the stolen vehicle was broadcast to area law enforcement and Sgt. Charlie Hallam of the Cloverdale Police Department located the vehicle on State Road 42 just west of State Road 243 in Owen County.
Troopers Jonathan Cumbie and Michael Featherling, along with Putnam County Sheriff's deputies Virgil Lanning and Mike Downing arrived moments later to assist.
During conversations with the female driver, she displayed classic signs of intoxication, had open alcoholic containers and provided officers with a false name. Further investigation revealed the female had damaged the pickup after leaving the residence by veering off the roadway numerous times along SR 243.
The driver, Melanie L. Rice, age 28, was arrested and taken to the Putnam County Jail where she tested .08 percent blood alcohol content.
She was booked in at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday on charges of auto theft, false identity statement, failure to stop after an accident, operating while never licensed-prior and operating while intoxicated.
Rice was also wanted on a Marion County warrant for intimidation.