Staff Report

WARSAW — A member of the Army National Guard has been arrested and accused of stealing and pawning military equipment.

Derrek M. McKay

Derrek Michael McKay, 29, 2180 S. CR 600E, Marion, is charged with theft, a level 6 felony. 

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on March 1, a Warsaw Police officer received a report of theft of military equipment from the Indiana National Guard Armory in Warsaw.

The officer spoke with a representative of the Indiana National Guard, who said an internal investigation into National Guard supplies and equipment being stolen from the Armory. 

The National Guard had been made aware of multiple incidents where McKay was pawning military equipment and supplies to the Trading Post in Marion. McKay had allegedly presented a memorandum signed by a captain in the Indiana National Guard authorizing the sale of the military equipment to the Trading Post.

The memorandum was reviewed by the captain and it was determined that the memorandum was a forgery. The signature at the bottom of the memorandum appeared to be a pdf copy of a signature from another document. 

Photographs of the stolen equipment that was recovered after being pawned at the Trading Post were presented.

McKay allegedly pawned military equipment and supplies totaling $7,700 over multiple visits between late 2019 to December 2020. 

Of the numerous items allegedly pawned by McKay, the Indiana National Guard was only able to identify a portion of the pawned items as being stolen from the Armory. 

The total loss for the Indiana Army National Guard of the items identified and stolen and pawned from the Armory by McKay totaled $13,804.14.

On Feb. 5, as part of the investigation, McKay was read his rights by a captain from the Indiana National Guard. McKay admitted to stealing and pawning items. He also provided a written statement to the captain that read, “I understand I have made a mistake and just want to make it right and continue a career in the ARNG. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone or waste anyone’s time. I love this organization and want to do whatever I have to to make this right.”

McKay was booked at the Kosciusko County Jail May 18 on a $5,250 surety and cash bond.