Mayoral Candidate Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Repo from Agency Lot

Starke County, IND – 12 March 2019 – A South Bend mayoral candidate, Will Smith, is facing two charges in Starke County in connection with the theft of a repossessed vehicle from a repossessors storage lot. Court records detail how Smith got access to his vehicle and removed it from the lot.

On February 13, a deputy with the Starke County Sheriff’s Department responded to an Indiana repossession company in Grovertown to investigate reports of a stolen vehicle.

The complainant said a vehicle that had been repossessed had been driven off the lot by someone who identified himself as William E. Smith, according to the probable cause affidavit.

After Smith showed up to the lot he identified himself, but said he couldn’t provide his identification because it was in the vehicle that had been repossessed, reports said.

The complainant allowed another person to accompany Smith to his 2018 Chevy Suburban to look for his identification, reports said.

Smith was wearing a dark jumpsuit, gloves and a hospital mask covering his mouth and nose, the witness told deputies.

Smith searched his vehicle, but was unable to find his ID.

As the person escorted Smith back to the building, Smith allegedly went back to his vehicle and drove it off the lot through an open and unsecured gate, according to the probable cause affidavit.

During the investigation, the deputy learned South Bend Police had found the vehicle at Smith’s house on February 15, reports said.

The deputy reviewed evidence in the case, including four different audio recordings of Smith inquiring about the vehicle, and video surveillance showing a man described by the complainant as Smith, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Smith was charged on March 8 with auto theft and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.

Source: ABC57