DATE: August 23, 2023
SUBJECT: Three Evansville Men Arrested for Organized Car Break-Ins in Vanderburgh County Neighborhoods
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-NR-0823
CONTACT: Lt. Doug Daza
AUTHORITY: Sheriff Noah Robinson
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office has arrested three Evansville men in a series of car break-ins that occurred in several northern Vanderburgh County neighborhoods. David Maurice Farmer Jr, Johnel Malik Henderson and Donya Lamont Hughes were arrested and charged with five counts of Organized Theft following their arrest early this morning.
At approximately 0411 hours, deputies were dispatched to a neighborhood near Daylight, IN. A homeowner, an off-duty officer with the Evansville Police Department, had been alerted to movement on his property by his security camera system. He observed three males dressed in dark clothing and masks in his driveway. He went outside to confront them and they fled. As deputies responded, they received additional reports of three males breaking into cars in the neighborhood. The deputies were able to locate a vehicle leaving the neighborhood and conducted a traffic stop at Hwy 57/Summer Hill Dr. The vehicle was occupied by the three subjects, all wearing dark clothing.
During the initial conversation, the three advised that they had been fishing. None of the three lived in the area. Deputies observed face masks on the floor behind the driver as well as other items that appeared to have been taken from vehicles. The vehicle was taken to the Sheriff’s Office Forensics Garage to be secured while a search warrant was prepared. The three males were transported to the Sheriff’s Operations Center to be interviewed by detectives. As the investigation progressed, more residents in the area reported break-ins to their vehicles. Video surveillance footage from several homeowners also showed what appeared to be the suspects walking the neighborhoods.
During the course of the interviews, the subjects initially stated that they were in a “fishing club” and had been fishing. Farmer denied any involvement in the thefts. Henderson and Hughes later admitted to varying levels of involvement in today’s thefts as well as some that had occurred in the last few weeks in other neighborhoods.
A search warrant was obtained for the vehicle. Upon its execution, detectives recovered numerous stolen items including credit cards, prescription medication, checkbooks and other valuables linking them to numerous thefts from vehicles. All three were arrested and placed in the Vanderburgh County Jail where they will be held without bond until making an initial court appearance. Farmer is expected to face additional felony charges involving the use of credit card stolen from a vehicle in a theft reported earlier this month. The investigation is ongoing and as more victims make reports, additional charges are likely.
Arrested:
David Maurice Farmer Jr, age 21, Evansville
Johnel Malik Henderson, age 22, Evansville
Donya Lamont Hughes, age 20, Evansville
Charges: 5 Counts of Organized Theft, a Level 6 Felony
Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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