Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Three Juveniles Arrested For Hempstead County Truck Theft

A group of three juveniles found themselves in hot water with the law after reportedly stealing a truck.

According to Nevada County Sheriff Steve Otwell, the NCSO got the original report about a car being stolen.

But, it was later found broke down on the side of the road. Dr. James Powell, an area veterinarian, reported a truck he owned stolen the same night. It, too, was later recovered by the NCSO.

Powell's truck was seen behind the Eagle's Nest convenience store in Emmet late Sunday evening, with a couple of teenage boys observe walking away from the scene.

A check of the license plate showed the truck did, in fact, belong to Powell and the two teens were picked up.

Apparently, Otwell said, one of the teens took his mother's car without her permission and planned to visit another friend.

But, the car broke down and he then noticed Powell's truck, which was not locked and had the keys in the ignition.

The truck was "borrowed" and the boys went joyriding, hitting a tree during the spree and damaging the passenger's side door.

Otwell said the alleged driver was the one who had the idea of taking Powell's truck and had to talk the other two into going along.

However, the NCSO won't be getting any credit for solving the crime, as Powell is a Hempstead County resident and the case was turned over to the Hempstead County Sheriff's Office.

The two 16-year-olds are being held in the Texarkana juvenile facility, while the 14-year- old involved was released to his mother.