Alabama Police Chiefs Car Stolen found in ditch, Suspect arrested
Saturday, August 21, 2004
By CONNIE BAGGETT – Staff Reporter
EVERGREEN -- A 19-year-old Conecuh County man remained in jail Friday in lieu of $300,000 bond charged with stealing three cars in a 24-hour period this week and with stealing the Georgiana police chief's marked cruiser in June.
Evergreen police Chief Detective Sean Klaetsch said Georgiana officers arrested Latwuan Herbert at about 2 a.m. Thursday after finding him passed out behind the wheel of a Dodge Neon reported stolen at 9:15 the evening before. The case started this week with a missing city truck, officers said.
"I had a feeling I knew who it was," said Klaetsch. "As soon as I got to work Wednesday morning and a truck had been stolen, I had a feeling. This suspect has now been charged with stealing six vehicles in about two months."
Klaetsch said the latest string of thefts started in June when a vehicle was taken from Evergreen and crashed in Georgiana about 20 miles north. A few blocks from the crash, the police chief's cruiser was taken from his residence, then found in a ditch along a dirt road in Evergreen the next day. Evidence pointed to Herbert who was arrested and charged with the thefts, authorities said.
Herbert was soon released on bond. In June, Herbert was arrested again and charged with stealing a car. Again, he was released on bond, Klaetsch said.
"Sometime between 10 p.m. on Tuesday and 7 a.m. Wednesday, a pickup belonging to the city was taken and driven to Georgiana," Klaetsch said. "It had damage to the front like the person had hit a deer or something. Residents found the truck abandoned, and nearby a Chevrolet Celebrity was reported missing, Klaetsch said.
Back in Evergreen a short time later, officers found the Celebrity and a gun taken from the city truck lying nearby, and -- once again -- another vehicle was reported stolen in the area.
At 9:15 p.m. Wednesday, a 1995 Dodge Neon was reported missing and, soon after, the vehicle was involved in a hit-and-run accident near Georgiana. Before 2 a.m., Georgiana officers found Herbert apparently intoxicated and passed out behind the wheel of the Neon, Klaetsch said.
"They knew him right away," the detective said. "He used to live in that area when he was growing up."
Herbert was taken to the Conecuh County Jail where he remained late Friday.
Klaetsch said he asked Herbert about the missing vehicles and his involvement.
"I asked him, 'Twuan, why'd you lie?' and I spelled out the evidence we had, from the gun from the truck and keys to the car he still had in his pocket when he was arrested," Klaetsch said. "Then he hung his head down and said, 'Guilty as charged,' and he signed a statement admitting what he did. We've had a busy few days lately."
A call to the Georgiana police chief was not returned Friday.