BEDFORD — A Bedford woman was arrested Friday morning after authorities say she took a vehicle without the owner’s permission and allegedly messaged the victim that she was heading to Florida.
Kala L. Pheylan, 30, faces a preliminary charge of theft of a vehicle following an incident that began in the early hours of April 24.
At approximately 5:47 a.m., Officer Steven Hatton Jr. of the Bedford Police Department responded to a residence in the 700 block of I Street. The female homeowner reported that Pheylan, whom she described as homeless, had entered her home and taken her car keys from a bathroom while the homeowner was getting ready for the day.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the homeowner explicitly told Pheylan to return the keys, but Pheylan allegedly ignored the request and drove away in a grey Mazda sedan valued at approximately $15,000. While officers were on the scene, Pheylan reportedly sent the victim a message stating she was waiting for a ride to Florida and would return the car afterward.
The vehicle was immediately entered into national databases as stolen. Less than two hours later, at approximately 7:27 a.m., Officer Hatton spotted the stolen Mazda while patrolling near 15th and I Streets.
The officer recognized Pheylan from previous interactions as she drove the vehicle. After initiating a traffic stop, Pheylan was taken into custody without incident.
A Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived with a K9 partner to conduct a “free air sniff” of the vehicle. While the K9 alerted to the odor of narcotics, a subsequent search of the vehicle yielded no evidentiary items.
Under questioning, Pheylan provided a different version of events. She claimed she had permission to use the car the night before and had slept in it after an argument. She told investigators she “assumed” she could still use the vehicle when she left that morning.
Pheylan was transported to the Lawrence County Jail for housing. In addition to the theft charge, she was formally served with a trespass warning, barring her from the victim’s property. The vehicle was towed and subsequently removed from the stolen vehicle registry.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the probable cause affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
