Gary James

Police arrested Gary James, 27, 4311 W. 18th St., Chicago, on charges of forgery, a class C felony and theft, a class D felony, following a December 2013 incident in Milford.

James was arrested Monday and booked in the Kosciusko County Jail.

Indiana State Police Officer Kyle Dukes filed the affidavit of probable cause with the Kosciusko Superior Court 1 on Aug. 1 2014.

Dukes states in the court document, he spoke with a Milford area resident who reported on Dec. 11, he received a phone call from a Dillon Douglas from Chicago, Ill. regarding purchasing the 2004 Mercedes-Benz he was selling. A selling price was agreed upon and Douglas stated he would bring a Chase Bank cashier’s check.

The following day two individuals arrived at the Milford address. The Milford area resident was given the cashier’s check, in the amount of $22,000 and the title was signed over to the buyer. Later that same day the Milford area resident went to a Milford bank to cash the check. He was later contacted and told him the check was fraudulent.

A copy of the cashier’s check, signed by a John Armando, was obtained by Dukes. Local bank officials stated the routing numbers and account numbers were fraudulent  and did not exist. The check had been manufactured.

It was on Jan. 28, Chicago Police conducted a traffic stop on the stolen Mercedes. The driver was identified as Jada Arnold. Arnold told police her boyfriend, Gary James let her use his car for shopping. James was positively identified through a photograph as the individual who had loaned her the vehicle. She provided police with a telephone number.

When contacted by police, James admitted he purchased the vehicle from the Milford area resident in December and he had a title for the vehicle. He was asked to bring the title to the police department. Approximately one hour later, a Brandon Smith brought the title to the Chicago Police.

James is being held on $5,000 surety bond.