COLUMBUS, Ind. — A local man suspected in multiple thefts and burglaries in Columbus was arrested Wednesday night in Jewell Village. Detectives from the Columbus Police Department Intelligence Led Policing Unit which is comprised of officers from the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office were tasked with investigating the string of theft and burglaries in downtown Columbus which included the theft of a tricycle from a man identified as Devon Reese, Columbus, who utilized the trike to get to work, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
When the theft was initially reported, the Columbus Cheer Fund provided a replacement trike to Reese. The family expressed thanks to the community for their help in replacing and now finding the original trike.
CPD patrol officers and detectives reviewed security video footage from the thefts and positively identified the suspect as Russell “Rusty” Rossman, 48, of 920 Chestnut St., Columbus. Detectives tracked Rossman to a home in Jewell Village where he was taken into custody and placed under arrest. Officers located the stolen tricycle and later returned the stolen property to its owner.’
Rossman was being held without bond in the Bartholomew County Jail.
Rossman was transported to the Bartholomew County Jail where he was remanded on the following preliminary charges: Burglary (Level 5 Felony) and two counts of Theft (Level 6 Felony). He remains incarcerated on a 48 hour hold.
The investigation into the theft/burglary cases is ongoing.
