Man Arrested After Stealing Items From Former Arnolt Building
Staff Report
WARSAW — A Warsaw man was arrested after officers found him sleeping in the former Arnolt building and discovered drugs.
Daniel K. Smith, 51, Warsaw, is charged with possession of methamphetamine and sentence enhancement theft, both level 6 felonies; and theft, a class A misdemeanor.
On April 2, a Warsaw Police officer was parked near the former Arnolt building and could hear someone inside. Officers walked through the building and found Smith sleeping on the floor.
According to court documents, the officers found two large spools of copper wire by an overhead door and a backpack containing multiple tools and drug paraphernalia. Smith told officers he had parked his vehicle inside the building a few days prior, but moved the vehicle when it was seen by city workers.
Officers went to the location where Smith’s vehicle was moved to and searched the vehicle. A K9 partner alerted to illegal drugs inside the vehicle. While searching, officers found a tin containing methamphetamine, as well as a pressure gauge, burnt copper wire, and a container full of old nails.
Smith denied stealing any copper wire from the building but said he found the pressure gauge laying on the ground outside of the building. He also said he found the tools inside the building and took them.
Smith was previously convicted of theft in 2018. He was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on April 2.