Man Apprehended after Stealing a Truck near Airport

On Friday, October 07, 2016 at 11:48 pm the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office responded to Rudd Equipment at 6901 N US Highway 41 in response to a stolen vehicle in progress report.

The owner of the stolen truck reported leaving work at Rudd Equipment when he observed that his 1993 Ford F-150 was no longer parked where he left it. The victim then noticed that his truck was stopped outside the fence that surrounded the business.

The suspect, later identified as Mr. Joseph Ayers, had entered the unlocked business parking lot on foot and drove away with the victim’s truck. Rather than drive the truck onto Petersburg Road, Mr. Ayers drove the truck along a fence line until he was stopped from continuing any further due to a ditch.

With the owner of the truck approaching, Mr. Ayers fled on foot to the south in the area of N. US Highway 41 and Petersburg Road. The airport authority was notified due the close proximity to the Evansville Airport. A short time later an off-duty Evansville Police Department officer spotted Mr. Ayers walking south on US 41. He was placed in custody at that time and positively identified by the victim as the person who had fled from his stolen truck.

Further investigation into the incident determined that Mr. Ayers had smashed the driver’s side window of the victim’s truck. Mr. Ayers was also found to be intoxicated, resulting in an additional Operating while Intoxicated charge.

ARRESTED:

Joseph David Ayers, 31, of Cameron, West Virginia. Auto Theft as a Level 6 Felony, Criminal Mischief to Vehicle as a Class B Misdemeanor, Operating a Motor Vehicle as a Class A Misdemenaor, Operating Without Ever Receiving a License as a Class C Misdemeanor, Tresspass as a Class A Misdemeanor.