By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
An arrest has been made in the afternoon license plate theft case from earlier in the week and two stolen vehicle cases as well.
Anthony Bernal, 39, of Salina, was arrested Thursday in connection to the stolen license plate case, two stolen vehicle cases, and a case in which a loaf of bread and a package of Oscar Meyer hotdogs were stolen from a south Salina store, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning.
Following is a timeline of the events leading up to Bernal's arrest.
Tuesday afternoon
A reported Hispanic male driving a black Dodge Caravan pulled into a parking stall next to a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan in the parking lot of Dollar Tree, 1201 W. Crawford Street. The man was seen walking to the back of the Grand Caravan and removing the license plate. He then got back into the Caravan and drove to nearby Club Carwash.
The man then came back to the Grand Caravan with a different license plate, which he handed to the owner of the Grand Caravan and asked whether it was hers. When she confronted him about stealing her license plate, he fled.
This incident was captured on surveillance video from Club Carwash, according to Forrester.
READ: Video records man stealing license plate in store parking lot Tuesday p.m.
Wednesday
Police respond to a report of suspicious activity in the 100 block of S. 12th Street. During that encounter, an officer took from one of the people involved a Dodge vehicle key. The key would later help police develop a suspect.
Thursday
At approximately 12:30 a.m. Thursday, officers responded to the report of people snooping in the 100 block of S. Baker Street. When police arrived, they found a charcoal gray Dodge Caravan parked in a nearby alley with its hazard lights on, the hood propped open, and the driver's door open. The tag on the vehicle was the one reported stolen from a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan Tuesday afternoon.
Additionally, police discovered that the Caravan had been reported stolen out of Garden City. When officers searched the Caravan, they found narcotics and drug paraphernalia, Forrester said.
During the investigation into this incident, police made contact with Bernal, according to Forrester.
READ: Police provide more details in license plate theft case
Also on Thursday, an officer took the Dodge vehicle key from the Wednesday incident to the impound lot where the Caravan was being kept and discovered that the key belonged to that particular minivan.
At approximately 3 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in the 1000 block of Park Street. A 62-year-old Salina man told police that he had loaned his 2008 Pontiac G6, valued at $2,000, to another person.
While that person and Bernal were at the residence on Park Street, Bernal left in the vehicle without permission, Forrester said.
At approximately 6 p.m. Thursday, Bernal was found asleep in the G6 in the parking lot of Walmart, 2900 S. Ninth Street. While officers were talking with Bernal, Walmart personnel approached and told police that Bernal had allegedly stolen a loaf of Sara Lee bread and a package of Oscar Meyer hotdogs, which were valued at $5, Forrester said.
Bernal also allegedly was found to be in possession of 10 Klonopin pills for which he had no prescription or tax stamp, Forrester added.
Bernal was arrested on the following requested charges, Forrester said.
●Possession of a stimulant
●No tax stamp
●Two counts of misdemeanor theft
●Two counts of driving while suspended
●Felony theft
●Two counts of misdemeanor possession of stolen property
●Felony possession of stolen property