COLUMBUS, Ind. — A local man was formally charged by the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office with several felonies as a result of a CPD Intelligence Led Policing Unit investigation after a series of catalytic converter thefts.
The investigation began in December after the Columbus Police Department received several reports of catalytic converter thefts from businesses in the community, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman. During the course of the investigation, detectives began looking at Russell D. Neville, 59, of 1624 Central Ave., Columbus as a possible suspect.
As the investigation continued, detectives believed that Neville was responsible for
catalytic converter thefts in Johnson and Marion counties as well, Harris said.
On Feb. 1, a traffic stop was conducted and Neville was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and marijuana. He was transported to the Bartholomew County Jail and remanded on the above charges as the investigation continued.
On Feb. 7th, the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office filed the following formal charges in this case:
–Nine Counts of theft (Level 6 Felonies)
–Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)
–Possession of marijuana (Class A Misdemeanor)
Assisting in the investigation were the Johnson County Intel Unit, Bargersville PD, CPD Patrol Division, CPD K-9 Division, Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET).
