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Truck theft suspect arrested

Police say teen fled to Kentucky after stealing from water plant

Brandon Johnson

A Craig teenager who police think stole a city truck in Craig on Feb. 7 was arrested in Kentucky last week after police there say he fled from them in a stolen car.

At the time of the arrest, the teen, Jacob Allen Drake, 18, of Craig, was driving a 1997 Kia that police say was stolen from Craig on Feb. 14.

Craig police spokesman Lt. John Forgay said police think Drake stole a truck from the Craig wastewater plant on Doyan Avenue on Feb. 7.



The truck was driven through the plant’s locked gate, damaging the truck and the gate, before being abandoned at Craig City Park.

Mark Sollenberger, wastewater director for the city of Craig, said his department plans to repair the gate and the truck.



Forgay said police also think Drake stole a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero in Craig and left it in a snowdrift west of the water treatment plant the night of the truck theft.

Police think Drake fled to Kentucky because he was suspected in the theft of the Oldsmobile and water treatment truck, Forgay said.

Owensboro police arrested Drake on Feb. 15 after they tried to stop him for driving with a loud muffler in downtown Owensboro, said Owensboro police Officer Jeff Arntz.

Drake refused to stop for police and was arrested after a 1.5-mile pursuit, according to a police report.

Drake and two passengers in the vehicle, Christopher Dale Mayfield, 18, of Owensboro, and a 16-year-old boy, were under the influence of drugs when they were arrested, Arntz said. It wasn’t clear what kind of drugs police suspected the three teens had used, Arntz said.

Drake is being held in the Daviess County Jail in Kentucky on charges of fleeing police, two counts of wanton endangerment, wanton endangerment of a police officer, receiving stolen property, driving under the influence and unlawful transaction with a minor. His bail is $25,000.

Forgay said the Craig Police Department doesn’t know yet whether Drake will be extradited to Craig.

Brandon Johansson can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 213, or bjohansson@craigdailypress.com.


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