A Baxter County man was arrested during the weekend on suspicion of stealing an ATV from a Norfork residence. Twenty-eight-year-old Heath Freeman of Norfork was booked early Sunday morning on felony counts of theft of property and defacing or altering vehicle identification number (VIN), and he was released nearly three hours later after posting $15,000 bond.
According to Baxter County Sheriff’s Sergeant Brad Hurst, the alleged victim reported last May the theft of his 2002 Honda four-wheeler from his home on Highway 5, and the VIN he gave to the sheriff’s office was confirmed by Lewis Auto where the ATV was purchased. The victim says he observed tire tracks across his property and proceeded to the railroad tracks behind his residence. He was joined by Norfork Police Officer Dempsey Thompson in following the tracks to an area where they left the track area and spotted a dirt trail in the Old Joe area.
The victim’s father spoke with Old Joe resident Colby Pickens who says he bought a four-wheeler matching the description from Chase Loosey for $900. Pickens adds Loosey provided a title, and its VIN matched the one on the frame. The victim and his father went to Pickens’ residence and provided paperwork showing the purchase of the bike from Lewis Auto, and the VIN provided at the time of the report matched the number on his paperwork and the number printed on a sticker on the frame of the ATV.
The title Loosey allegedly provided to Pickens at the time of the sale was for a 2000 model instead of a 2002 model as was stolen from the victim. Lewis Auto reported it had not provided a title to the victim at the time of the sale, and there was no VIN on the frame matching the number currently appearing on it.
Loosey gave a statement to authorities in early April saying he was approached by Freeman on the possibility of Loosey purchasing the ATV. Loosey reports he and Freeman agreed to trade the ATV for $400 cash and a dirt bike frame. After receiving the ATV and what he thought was a legitimate title, Loosey sold it to Pickens for $900.
Freeman has a court date scheduled for Thursday morning.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI