A brother and sister were arrested Wednesday, Feb. 22, by officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department in connection with the theft of a big-screen television from Wal-Mart, 2281 S. Main St.
Police were notified by department store personnel around 8 a.m. that a 55-inch television had been taken from the store without payment. A review of the theft by officers showed a suspect, Trenton Matthews, 42, of Bellefontaine, enter the store, immediately walk back to the electronics section, grab the TV valued at approximately $426, place it in a cart and exit without paying for the item.
Officers report they are familiar with the suspect due to previous interactions with him.
The vehicle Matthews was driving was described as a white SUV registered to his sister, Amber Matthews, 37, of Bellefontaine.
Around 5:45 p.m. that same day, officers were notified the suspect was seen driving eastbound on Garfield Avenue operating the same vehicle used in the theft. A traffic stop was initiated in the parking lot of 143 N. Main St.
Upon making contact with the suspect, and his sister, who was a passenger in the vehicle, Trenton was advised he was a suspect in a theft investigation.
He initially refused to exit the vehicle when directed and resisted officers’ attempts to handcuff him. A scuffle ensued as Trenton attempted to cling to the driver’s side door of the vehicle to resist being detained.
According to a police report, Trenton asserted that, “according to Trump,” officers could not arrest him. He went on to say that officers were not “feds” and he claimed they were kidnapping him.
Trenton was ultimately apprehended and secured in the rear of a police cruiser.
He was charged with theft, resisting arrest and a parole violation. Amber was found to have an outstanding warrant for failure to appear through the Logan County Common Pleas Court.
A Bellefontaine police officer reported minor injuries to his knee and hand as a result of the scuffle with Trenton.
Both suspects were lodged in the Logan County Jail. The vehicle was towed from the scene.