Crime And Law

CRUISER CAM: Man accused of stealing deputy’s vehicle loaded with gun, ballistic vest arrested at WPAFB

DAYTON — UPDATE @ 4:02 p.m. (March 9):

The Dayton man accused of stealing an unmarked detective vehicle from the rear lot of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office downtown headquarters was captured at Wright-Patterson Air Force base after a Five Rivers Metroparks Park Ranger spotted the vehicle, court documents show.

Gerald M. Davis, 51, is charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, after police said he allegedly stole the vehicle from the lot at 345 W. Second Street around 3 p.m. Thursday.

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The vehicle contained a shotgun and ballistic vest, according to court documents.

A Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office sergeant confronted Davis before he exited the parking lot, but Davis got away, records show.

Davis was eventually arrested at Gate 12-A at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Davis’ bond was set at $2,500 in court Friday.

UPDATE @ 10:35 p.m. (March 8):

A 51-year-old Dayton man who was released from jail this afternoon is back behind bars tonight, accused of swiping a sheriff’s vehicle and driving it to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Gerald M. Davis was returned to the Montgomery County Jail and booked at 4:58 p.m. on suspicion of theft, just three hours after he was released at 1:49 p.m., according to jail records.

He was released when an aggravated arson case against him was dismissed in Dayton Municipal Court. He had been accused of setting small fires the evening of Feb. 26 inside the hallway and lobby of his apartment building at 475 W. Grand Ave., in Dayton.

>> Aggravated arson charges filed against Dayton man in apartment fire

Shortly after 3 p.m. today, the sheriff’s office issued a BOLO (be on the look-out) for a silver Ford Taurus after the unmarked Montgomery County Sheriff’s vehicle was stolen from the sheriff’s lot. The suspect was described as a white man with gray hair and beard who was wearing a green shirt and red plaid bottoms.

The suspect drove to Gate 12-A at WPAFB, where he was detained and the vehicle recovered by sheriff’s officials.

“My understanding is the individual approached the gate and the guards just delayed him until the civil authorities arrived and arrested him,” said Wright-Patt spokesman Daryl Mayer. “It was very quick.”

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At no point was the base locked down. It is not known why the suspect drove there, nor whether he had a connection to the base.

FIRST REPORT

A man who reportedly was just released from jail this afternoon stole an unmarked sheriff’s vehicle.

Law enforcement issued a BOLO (be on the look-out) around 3 p.m. for the vehicle, a silver Ford Taurus, that had been swiped from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office lot. The suspect was described as a white man with gray hair and beard who was wearing a green shirt and red plaid bottoms.

The vehicle later was found, and the suspect detained, at Gate 12-A at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the sheriff’s office confirmed.

The suspect’s name has not been released, nor what charges he faces.

We will update this report as we learn more details.

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