Portland man is facing auto theft charges

A Portland man is suspected of stealing a dozen vehicles.

Anthony T. Myers, 22, was arrested Tuesday and preliminarily charged with more than 20 counts, including 12 for auto theft.

The auto theft charges are all Level 6 felonies. He also faces three counts of burglary, Level 5 felonies; two counts of firearm theft, Level 5 felonies; obliterating identifying marks on a handgun, a Level 5 felony; resisting law enforcement, a Level 6 felony; possession of stolen property, a Class A misdemeanor; and possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor.

Portland Police Chief Dustin Mock and investigator Jeff Hopkins explained that the department has been investigating a string of auto thefts and burglaries since August. According to a Facebook post from Portland Police Department late Tuesday, the department had been conducting surveillance operations on the west side of Portland where vehicles were reported stolen.

Portland police received a call from John Petro of Portland about 6 a.m. Tuesday to report a stolen 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Officers located the white truck and attempted to stop the driver, Myers, after a brief vehicle pursuit. Myers tried to flee on foot before officers caught him in an alley in the 900 block of Main and Water streets, confirmed Hopkins.

Myers had been armed with a stolen handgun, according to the Facebook post, and also was in possession of another stolen firearm. He allegedly tried to remove the serial number from one of the guns, Hopkins said. Police also allegedly discovered he had items reported as stolen from locations in Portland and rural Jay County.

Myers was arrested and booked into Jay County Jail. He’s being held on a $15,000 bond.

“Portland Police Department reminds everyone to lock their vehicles and avoid leaving valuable items inside,” the Facebook post says.