A Michigan City man linked to several thefts from motor vehicles has been arrested, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday.
Since the beginning of August, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office has investigated an increased number of thefts from motor vehicles. The thefts were occurring in residential neighborhoods primarily located in the northwest portion of the county. Most of the thefts were occurring during the overnight hours making it incredibly difficult to locate / identify a suspect, police said.
That changed last Friday morning at about 1:00 a.m. when deputies were dispatched to the 4600 block of Vintage Court where a resident’s camera surveillance system captured a subject entering a vehicle parked in the driveway. Several deputies responded and began to search the immediate area for the suspect. While doing so, they located several articles strewn about belonging to nearby residents, later confirming they had just been victimized, police said.
A suspicious vehicle that had been abandoned was located in the neighborhood as well.
Deputies remained in the area and waited patiently for the suspicious vehicle to leave. At about 4:00 a.m., the vehicle began to leave the area. Probable cause was established, and a traffic stop was initiated at the intersection of County Road 400 North and County Road 600 West. The driver was identified as 31-year-old Cleophis J. Swanson. During the course of the traffic stop, evidence was observed and recovered linking Swanson to the recent thefts.
Swanson was taken into custody and transported to the La Porte County Jail.
Swanson was arrested for the offenses of theft and unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle.
Police said on Tuesday that Swanson remained housed in the LCJ and was being held without bond.