New Castle man held in Jay Co. for auto theft

A New Castle man was transferred Monday evening to Jay County Jail on a charge of auto theft, in relation to the theft of two pickups in southeast Jay County. A second suspect is in custody in Rush County while a third remains at large.
Clint E. Hannon, 35, 5397 E. 300 South, faces a preliminary charge of auto theft: receiving stolen auto parts, a Level 6 felony. He is being held in Jay County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Another suspect, Courtney D. Elam, 33, 1212 S. 18th St. Apt. C, New Castle, is being held in Rush County Jail on charges of possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, and possession of paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor.
A third suspect, Christopher W. Godsey, 31, 10002 Sugar Grove Road, Hagerstown, remains at large.
On Nov. 6, a 2016 Dodge Ram, owned by Mike Kunkle, 7395 E. 400 South, and a red 2000 Dodge Ram, owned by Brad LeMaster, 720 E. 300 South, were stolen sometime in the early morning.
On Nov. 8, an investigation by Randolph County Sheriff’s Office led detectives to Hannon, who they allegedly found in possession of LeMaster’s Dodge. Hannon was interviewed by Randolph County and Jay County investigators, and police say he confessed to them that he, along with Godsey and Elam, had stolen the trucks.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed in the case, Hannon said that before playing a part in the Jay County auto thefts, he had stolen a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado in New Castle that the trio used to drive to Jay County on the morning of Nov. 6 in an effort to locate another vehicle to steal. Hannon said they found Kunkle’s 2016 Dodge Ram parked outside the Kunkle residence and Godsey stole it after finding the keys inside, the affidavit says.
Kunkle had been planning to purchase a car the next day, and the Ram had a trailer attached and $4,000 cash in the console.
Hannon, according to the affidavit, said the group abandoned the trailer and 2000 Chevrolet Silverado, which was having mechanical problems, after heading east on county road 400 South and turning north onto county road 850 East and was headed west in the Dodge on county road 300 South when they saw LeMaster’s 2000 Dodge. Hannon said he stole the Dodge after finding the keys inside, and the group drove back to New Castle, the affidavit says.
The affidavit states that after Hannon’s confession he gave police permission to use his phone to send a text message to Godsey, asking him to meet at Village Pantry in Farmland. 
Officers from Randolph County and Jay County were waiting at the gas station when a silver Dodge Ram matching the description of Kunkle’s stolen truck pulled up and parked around 8 p.m. Police moved in to arrest the male driver and female passenger, but the truck accelerated over the parking curb, into a ditch and south onto Indiana 1. Police followed in a pursuit that went through southwest Randolph County and northeast Henry County.
Police lost sight of the Ram in New Castle, but found it abandoned after striking a sidewalk and the steps of a residence. They were able to confirm that it was Kunkle’s stolen truck.
Elam was arrested in Rush County the next day, Nov. 9, and police say she corroborated the details of Hannon’s confession.
Police are still looking for Godsey, who has a warrant out for his arrest in relation to the Nov. 6 auto thefts.