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Warrant Issued For Man Who Stole Vehicle From Car Dealer

Last updated on Wednesday, July 3, 2013

(UNDATED) - A warrant is out for the arrest of a 24-year-old man who allegedly test drove a silver 2000 Dodge Stratus off a car dealer’s lot and did not return.

A bench warrant was issued for Dustin Roecker late Tuesday after a criminal case was filed against him in Greene Circuit Court.

When Roecker is apprehended, he'll be facing a preliminary charge of auto theft - a class D felony.

Greene County Sheriff's Deputy Jeff Brown has been investigating since he was dispatched to Duncan's Motors on State Road 54 in Switz City around 3 p.m. on Friday, June 21.

Kevin Waltman, a sales manager at Duncan's, told the deputy that Roecker and an unknown female came to the car lot on foot that afternoon. They said their vehicle was undergoing maintenance at Tieman Tire, located next door to the car lot, and they were in the market for a newer and better vehicle. Waltman said this was not unusual with the tire shop being next door.

Roecker and the woman were shown several different cars. Waltman said they took all of them out on a test drive but brought the others back. Coincidentally, all of the vehicles that were test driven, except the Stratus, had less than a quarter of a tank of gas. The Stratus had a half tank of gas.

The manager made a photocopy of Roecker's driver's license before he test drove any vehicle. He said the photo matched the person who took the Stratus.

About 30 minutes after Roecker left with the car, and had not returned, the manager contacted the owner of the business, Brandon Duncan. Duncan was in the Bloomfield area, was watching for the car and spotted it.

Duncan told the deputy he followed the Stratus east on State Road 54 to the Eastern-Greene Middle School area but lost it because it was traveling at a high rate of speed. He also said the Stratus had a different license plate than the one issued by the business.

Deputy Brown said both the owner and the manager told him the vehicle was in good running condition with no mechanical problems.

As of July 1, the vehicle had not been returned or located.

According to court records, Roecker resides on Sacajawea Court in Ellettsville.

Anyone with information about the location of the Stratus or Roecker is asked to call the Greene County Sheriff's Department at 812-384-4411.

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