Neal Ryan Minnick

KOSCIUSKO — A Syracuse man was arrested after stealing a vehicle and trailer from Sparkman Auto, Warsaw.

Neal Ryan Minnick, 37, 202 E. Washington St., Syracuse, is being charged with auto theft, a level 6 felony.

On Feb. 8, officers with the Warsaw Police Department responded to an auto theft complaint at Sparkman Auto.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, officers talked with a Sparkman Auto employee. The employee stated a 1999 tan GMC Yukon and a trailer were missing from the property.

On Feb. 16, the stolen Yukon and trailer were located on CR 1250N near Milford. While searching the vehicle, officers found a gift card receipt dated Feb. 11 from T.J. Maxx. The person who purchased the gift card was a female.

Surveillance video from T.J. Maxx showed the female being dropped off at the store in the stolen vehicle. Officers obtained a search warrant for the female’s cell phone and learned that she was in South Bend that day, and she had been communicating with Minnick.

A male subject familiar with Minnick provided officers with information about the stolen vehicle. According to the male, Minnick showed up at his house with the stolen vehicle. The Sparkman Auto decals had been spray-painted over. Minnick stole a license plate from a vehicle in Syracuse and put it on the stolen vehicle.

Minnick was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on July 5, with a $15,750 surety and cash bond.