One Arrested In Friday Thefts, More Charges Pending
A Friday afternoon theft spree at GNC, Big R and Staples in Warsaw and Dunham Sporting Goods in Columbia City resulted in the arrest of Ralph Cowing, 36, 13011 Cocoplum Court, Fort Wayne. He was preliminarily charged with theft and resisting law enforcement. His bond was set at $2,000 surety.
Additional charges are pending.
Events began at 2:10 p.m. Friday when police were called to GNC, Commerce Drive, Warsaw, after an alleged black male left the store without purchasing items. The clerk told police she observed the individual put numerous products in his coat pocket before coming to the cash register to inquire about membership. He left the store without purchasing the items and was seen running towards Big R where the clerk lost sight of the individual.
Later Central Dispatch sent officers to Big R, Commerce Drive, where employees reported an individual had fled the store on foot and jumped into a black Toyota mini van. An officer, who was in the area, spotted the vehicle westbound on US 30 and turned into the DePuy parking lot. The officer temporarily lost track of the vehicle but upon spotting it again, he observed a Hispanic male jump from the vehicle and run towards the entrance of the parking lot. But the vehicle continued.
Officers were able to get the vehicle stopped in the northeast corner of the lot and found a female driver, Johnelle Hughes, no address available, with two children in the van. The suspect, later identified as Cowing, had reportedly gone inside the main entrance to DePuy into the restroom according to DePuy security.
Cowing was later located and arrested.
Inside the vehicle officers found items totaling $192.58 belonging to Big R, $832.91 worth of supplements from GNC, LeapFrog merchandise totaling $313.40 from Staples and $176 worth of items allegedly from Dunham Sporting Goods, Columbia City, including golf balls. The vehicle was impounded.
Officers are continuing their investigation into the thefts.