Docs: Muncie man drags truck owner 30-50 feet during April auto theft

MUNCIE, Ind. — A Muncie man was arrested on Sunday after he reportedly stole a car from a south Muncie gas station, dragging the owner 30 to 50 feet during the incident earlier this month.

According to court documents, 55-year-old James Himes was arrested on one count of auto theft, a Level 5 felony, in relation to the reported theft, which occurred on April 7 at a Shell gas station located near the intersection of E. 29th St. and S Macedonia Ave.

Officials said in the documents that a man, later identified as Himes, was walking around a truck and jumped into the driver’s seat. The owner of the truck reportedly ran outside the gas station to get Himes out of his car.

Himes sped off in the truck and as a result, the owner of the truck was dragged 30 to 50 feet while he was holding on to the passenger’s side door. The owner of the truck was taken to a local hospital for treatment after the incident, with officials stating in the documents that he “possibly suffered (from) a broken ankle.”

During its investigation, deputies collected video from the Shell station of the reported incident. A staff member from the Delaware County Jail identified the suspect as Himes. The documents said Himes had a prior conviction for auto theft in Henry County and was on probation for it.

On Sunday, Himes was arrested by the Muncie Police Department. During an interview with law enforcement, Himes “quickly requested a lawyer when the auto theft was brought up.” Officials said that Himes was reportedly wearing the same shoes when he was taken into custody that he was reportedly wearing during the theft.

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