FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vehicle Theft Suspect Located and Arrested in Lauderdale County
On the morning of Tuesday, June 30, Sheriff Ward Calhoun encountered a man lying in the median of Highway 19 North near the intersection of Highway 494. The man complained of a medical issue, and Metro Ambulance was dispatched to evaluate his condition. After being medically cleared, the man continued walking north.
Prior to leaving the scene, Sheriff Calhoun contacted the Philadelphia Police Department to determine whether the individual had any outstanding warrants. At that time, no warrants were found. Approximately five minutes later, the Philadelphia Police Department called back and advised that the man had been identified as a suspect in the theft of a vehicle that had been reported stolen on Saturday, June 27.
Deputies responded to the area and located the suspect a short time later at a business near Cricket Road, where he was taken into custody without incident.
Philadelphia Police Chief Eric Lyons stated that the investigation began after a female victim reported that her Honda CR-V had been stolen from her residence on Coleman Street in Philadelphia. According to Chief Lyons, the victim told investigators she had left her friend, Johnathon Price of Meridian, at her residence on Saturday while she went elsewhere. When she returned, both Price and her vehicle were gone. She attempted to locate Price and recover the vehicle on her own before reporting the theft to law enforcement.
Following his arrest by the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department, Price was turned over to the Philadelphia Police Department. He has been charged with motor vehicle theft.
As with all criminal cases, these charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.