By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
The forethought of an Arkansas man helped Saline County Sheriff's deputies solve three stolen vehicle cases Friday.
Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that a 35-year-old man from Clarksville, Ark., was traveling through Saline County on Interstate 70 Aug. 3 when his 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 dually pickup broke down near the Hedville exit. The pickup was valued at $35,000.
The man, who was headed to a construction job, put a note on the pickup that he would return for it. He also put a tracker in the pickup before he left, Soldan said.
On Friday, the man returned with another pickup and trailer to retrieve the Ram, but it was gone. The tracker indicated that the pickup was at a residence in the 7900 block of W. Stimmel Road. Soldan said the man first drove by the location, and after confirming that his pickup was there, called the sheriff's office.
Deputies confirmed that the pickup was the one missing and then got a search warrant for the property. Once the search warrant was served, deputies discovered that the pickup's drive shaft was missing and damage had been done to the ignition, Soldan said. Total damage and loss was estimated at $1,500.
While conducting the search, deputies found a maroon 1996 Chevrolet Silverado that had been reported stolen on Dec. 4, 2021, from the 2100 block of Hageman Avenue in Salina.
They also found a blue 1997 Chevrolet Suburban that had been reported stolen on April 10 from Access Storage, 1433 N. Ninth Street.
Additionally, they located two rifles, Soldan said.
A resident of the property, Jacob McCombs, 38, was arrested on the following requested charges, Soldan said.
●Possession of stolen vehicles
●Damage to property
●Possession of a weapon by a convicted felon
Additionally, another resident, Christine Williams, 32, was arrested on requested charges of theft and damage to property in connection with the Ram, Soldan said.