Indiana State Police have arrested two local men after accusing them of stealing items from two family vehicles at a state trooper’s Columbus home.
State Police Sgt. Eric Streeval said he saw a man in his wife’s vehicle that was parked in the driveway of the Streeval home at 4:45 a.m. Sept. 28. Streeval confronted the man, later identified as Thomas McFall, 24, of 4924 N. Vance St., who then fled on foot, said Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, Indiana State Police spokesman.
While searching the area, Streeval spoke with a second individual, later identified as Jackson Nolting, 23, of 4690 E. County Road 100S, who was standing nearby next to a Honda passenger car.
When Streeval returned to his home later, he discovered that his daughter’s debit card had been stolen from her car, also parked in the driveway at the home, Wheeles said. The debit card had been used at 6 a.m. at a grocery store in Columbus, Wheeles said.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
While checking the area, Streeval observed the Honda and McFall and Nolting in the nearby department store parking lot in Columbus.
Wheeles said Streeval approached both males and identified himself as a police officer. When Streeval was trying to detain McFall, McFall battered him and fled on foot, Wheeles said.
McFall was eventually apprehended in another retailer’s parking lot on the south side of Columbus with the assistance of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, Wheeles said. Nolting fled from Streeval in the vehicle prior to being identified.
Streeval sustained minor scrapes from the altercation with McFall, Wheeles said. Streeval and McFall were checked out at Columbus Regional Hospital.
Through surveillance footage, Nolting was identified as the second suspect, Wheeles said.
On Tuesday, Columbus police conducted a traffic stop on the Honda which Nolting was driving, Wheeles said. Nolting was arrested on unrelated drug charges.
During the investigation by Indiana State Police detectives, stolen items as well as the items purchased with the stolen debit card were recovered, Wheeles said.
McFall was arrested on preliminary charges of:
Battery on law enforcement with injury
Resisting law enforcement
Obstruction of justice
Fraud
Theft
False informing
Unauthorized entry into a vehicle
Bartholomew County warrants for conversion, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia
Nolting was arrested on preliminary charges of:
Fraud
Resisting law enforcement in a vehicle
Theft
Nolting also faces additional drug-related charges from the Columbus Police Department’s investigation, Wheeles said.
Nolting is being held in the Bartholomew County Jail with no bond, jail officials said. McFall, whose bond was set at $47,000, was released Wednesday by a court order, jail officials said.
