Man tackles car break-in suspect, holds him until police arrive in Dayton

DAYTON — A man tackled a suspect he caught inside his car early Saturday and held him until police arrived.

Around 2 a.m., a man spotted the suspect, identified as 35-year-old Stephen Fletcher, inside his unlocked silver 2010 Toyota Corolla parked in front of his house in the first block of Watts Street. Fletcher was holding a hammer and the car owner knocked it out of his hand and tackled Fletcher to the ground and held him until officers arrived, according to a Dayton police report.

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Inside Fletcher’s pockets was a gold bracelet, silver necklace and lighter, which the Corolla owner said were his.

Fletcher was wearing three pairs of pants, and inside his underwear police found the keys to a blue 1994 BMW parked nearby, the report stated.

Fletcher said he first got into the BMW — which was reported stolen out of West Carrollton — because it was unlocked. That’s when he noticed the keys in the ignition. The car would not start, but Fletcher said he took the keys.

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He also admitted to taking items from the Toyota, and that a glass marijuana pipe found was his. Police also found a small amount of marijuana.

Fletcher was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on suspicion of receiving stolen property, a felony, and misdemeanor charges of theft and drug possession. He is due Monday for arraignment in Dayton Municipal Court.

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