Kentucky man arrested after alleged thefts in Scioto County
Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman reports that the 9-1-1 Communication Center received a call on Saturday, Aug. 26 from a Wheelersburg business. The caller stated that someone had broken into the business and stolen several items, to include cash, titles, keys and a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.
A deputy responded and gathered evidence and information for a report. Deputies and detectives, working jointly, were able to identify a suspect.
On Sunday, Aug. 27, the suspect contacted the 9-1-1 Communication Center wanting to report his truck stolen from a job site in Portsmouth. A deputy responded and completed a stolen vehicle report.
The suspect was detained and brought to the sheriff’s office for an interview. During the interview, the suspect allegedly admitted that his truck had not been stolen. The suspect allegedly admitted that he had taken it, leaving it running, and parked it along the Ohio River on the Kentucky side. The suspect then allegedly admitted to breaking into the Wheelersburg business and stealing the truck.
During the investigation, deputies and detectives allegedly recovered over 300 stolen titles and an assortment of vehicle keys. One of the keys allegedly belonged to the truck which was reported stolen from the Wheelersburg business. The truck was allegedly located hidden in a wooded area at the suspect’s house in Greenup, Ky.
On Monday, Aug. 28, detectives learned of a burglary which had occurred on Saturday, Aug. 26 in Otway, in which firearms were reportedly stolen. While reviewing the evidence, detectives were able to determine that the suspect was the same individual.
The suspect showed allegedly detectives the location of the stolen firearms, taking them to Pond Lick Road off state Route 125 in the Otway area. Detectives allegedly did recover the stolen firearms, buried at that location.
Arrested was Michael A. Swords, 42, of Greenup, Ky. Swords has been charged with burglary, a felony of the second degree; two counts of tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree; theft of firearms, a felony of the third degree; having weapons under disability, a felony of the third degree; breaking & entering, a felony of the fifth degree; grand theft auto, a felony of the fourth degree; felony theft, a felony of the fifth degree; and making a false report, a felony of the fifth degree.
Sheriff Thoroughman stated that this is an ongoing investigation in which additional charges may be presented to the Scioto County grand jury on a later date. Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091.