Richwood, OH - Police Cruiser Stolen From Missing Person Assist Call - Found Wrecked

Richwood police vehicle stolen, found wrecked
Marion Star Staff Report

RICHWOOD - A Richwood police cruiser was stolen over the weekend and later found crashed into a cement wall.

The cruiser, according to the Union County Sheriff's Office, was reportedly found wrecked in the 200 block of Beatty Avenue, in Richwood,  blocks away from where it was stolen and a few minutes after the theft. A search of the area did not surface the suspect.

Richwood Police Officer Jonathon Todhunter was responding to a missing person call at 100 block of Beatty Avenue at about 3:48 a.m. on Sunday, March 2. The missing person, said Sgt. Rebecca Frazier of the Richwood Police Department, was diabetic and his parents expressed concern from a phone call from him that he had been beaten up and had not had his medication for three days.

Todhunter's 2007 Ford Crown Victoria was reportedly left running while he was inside the house taking the report. Upon leaving the house he discovered the cruiser was gone.
A statewide alert has been issued. Fingerprints were lifted from the wrecked cruiser and are being investigated for a match.

Authorities were able to verify that the missing person was located in another county and able to verify that he was in that location at the time of the theft.

No damage estimate was available for the cruiser. The perpetrator has not been located.

The investigation was processed by Union County Sheriff's deputies. Richwood Police Chief Monte Asher was not available for comment Wednesday.

When and if found, the perpetrator of the theft of the police cruiser could be charged with felonies counts unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and grand theft of a motor vehicle.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Richwood Police Department at 740-943-2422 or the Union County Sheriff's Department at 937-645-4100
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