Two charged in January truck theft | News, Sports, Jobs

A Titusville man is behind bars in Erie County while a Conneaut, Ohio, woman is jailed in Warren County stemming from the theft of a Dodge Ram truck.

Zachary R. Thompson, 27, and Alesha M. Baker, 23, have been charged by Warren-based Pennsylvania State Police in connection with the January incident.

State police responded to a US 6 address in Brokenstraw Twp. for a report of stolen white 2000 Dodge Ram “dually” truck as well as a 2011 Pacemaker trailer on Jan. 24 The owner provided registration identifying information to police at that time.

Police say in the affidavit of probable cause that the trailer was found that same day parked at the intersection of Route 27 and Route 426 in Pittsfield Twp.

A week later, police allege, the Conneaut (Ohio) Police Department contacted state police here “regarding the recovery of the truck.”

Police there said that the plate on the vehicle had been switched and that it was identified as stolen by the vehicle identification number.

Ohio police said that a person identifying himself as “Ian Thompson” was arrested on charges including possession of stolen property and held at the Conneaut City Jail.

On March 2, troopers met with the owner of the vehicle and “she advised that when the vehicle was returned to her she had located paperwork and a phone in the truck belonging to Zachary Thompson and Alesha Baker.” Further investigation, police say in the affidavit, determined that Ian Thompson was really Zachary Thompson and that Baker is his significant other.

A report from police in Ohio revealed that Zachary Thomspon had allegedly used his brother’s name when he was arrested.

Last week, troopers received video surveillance from a Kwik Fill in Titusville as part of a separate investigation. They allege that “Zachary Thompson can be seen driving the stolen Dodge 3500 dually belonging to the victim” and that “Alesha Baker was in the passenger seat of the vehicle with him.”

Thompson faces two felony counts of theft by unlawful taking while Baker faces a sole felony count of receiving stolen property. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for this month.