Car Theft Subjects Captured
On October 3, 2017, at 11 :20 a.m., a Uniform Patrol deputy of the Clark County Sheriff's Office was traveling on East Main Street in the City of Springfield, when his Automated License Plate Reader activated, alerting him to a possible stolen vehicle that had passed him.
The deputy turned around and observed the vehicle directly, confirming that the registration was correct, and that the vehicle he observed was the correct vehicle listed as stolen. The Clark County Sheriff's Office Communication Center confirmed the vehicle was stolen through the Springfield Police Division, as it was pulling into the McDonald's restaurant on E. Main Street.
The deputy stopped the vehicle and detained the driver, identified as Jeffrey M. Palmer. Inside the vehicle was evidence connecting Mr. Palmer to the stolen car, as well as a substantial quantity of other evidence connecting him to other incidents of theft. Detectives from the Clark County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division then responded to the scene.
Further evidence led deputies and detectives to the Townhouse Motor Lodge, also on East Main Street, where they recovered a second vehicle reported stolen through the Springfield Police Division. Mr. Palmer gave consent to search his room at the motel, where further stolen property and evidence of criminal activity was recovered.
Additionally, further evidence was obtained regarding a third stolen vehicle, which was subsequently recovered in the campus area of Wittenberg University, as well as the participation of an accomplice to Mr. Palmer, identified as Robert L. Coder. Investigative leads developed by the deputies and detectives, led them to the Ronez Apartments on the northeast side of Springfield, where they located a fourth stolen vehicle.
While conducting surveillance on the vehicle, deputies and detectives observed Mr. Coder and another subject, later identified as a Kurt Miracle, enter the vehicle and begin driving further into Springfield. Patrol and investigative units converged on the stolen car and attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the area of the McDonald's Restaurant on East Main Street. During the stop, Mr. Coder, who was driving the stolen car, attempted to flee the traffic stop and rammed a Clark County Sheriff's Office marked patrol car, occupied by a uniformed deputy.
Mr. Coder was unable to successfully flee from the traffic stop and was taken into custody, along with Mr. Miracle, who had an unrelated warrant for his arrest from Madison County. Mr. Miracle was surrendered to Madison County authorities directly, and Mr. Palmer and Mr. Coder were transported to the Clark County Sheriff's Headquarters, where they were first interviewed and then incarcerated. This case remains under investigation by the Clark County Sheriff's Office to determine the identities of the victims so that their property may be returned to them.
 Jeffrey Palmer |
 Robert Coder |
Posted October 7, 2017