A case that began with a burned up SUV has evolved into a vehicle theft case involving an altercation with a hitchhiker.
Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that deputies and firefighters with Rural Fire District No. 5 were sent to the 7800 block of East Stimmel Road at 11:03 a.m. Wednesday for the report of a vehicle fire. Destroyed in the blaze was a silver 1998 Isuzu Rodeo valued at $2,000.
At 1:30 p.m. that afternoon, the owner of the vehicle, Callie Gustus, 31, of Salina, went to the Saline County Sheriff's Office to report her SUV being stolen, Soldan said. Gustus told investigators that she picked up a hitchhiker on Country Club Road. Gustus said that near the intersection of Country Club Road and North Gypsum Valley Road, there was a disturbance between herself and the hitchhiker.
Gustus told investigators that she got out of the vehicle and the hitchhiker took off with the SUV. She reported the incident after she saw on social media that the SUV had burned up, Soldan said.
A description of the hitchhiker that Gustus gave the investigators is as follows.
White male
Heavier build
35-45 years of age
Nasty teeth
Gray, mangy looking beard
Earring in his left ear
Wearing a black, puffy hooded jacket with a white P on it, blue jeans, and white sneakers