Dunkirk man pleads to series of car thefts

A rural Dunkirk man has pleaded guilty to stealing a dozen vehicles.

Anthony T. Myers, 23, 10770 W. 200 North, pleaded Monday in Jay Circuit Court to four burglary charges, all Level 5 felonies, along with two Level 5 felonies for theft of a firearm, a Level 5 felony for altering a firearm’s identifying marks and 12 counts of auto theft, all Level 6 felonies.

His sentencing hearing is set for 2:30 p.m. May 20.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed in connection with the case, Myers broke into several homes in Portland with the intent to commit theft. He also stole 12 vehicles.

Portland Police Department began investigating a string of auto thefts and burglaries in August, with the crimes spanning through Nov. 12. It conducted surveillance operations on the west side of Portland.

Police received a call from John Petro of Portland about 6 a.m. Nov. 12 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 allegedly tried to flee on foot before officers caught him in an alley in the 900 block of Main and Water streets.

Myers was armed with a stolen handgun and also was in possession of another stolen gun, which he said he tried to remove the serial number from, the affidavit says. Police said they discovered he was in possession of items reported as stolen from other Jay County homes.

Myers admitted to the crimes shortly after he was apprehended by police and explained where stolen items were hidden, according to the affidavit. (All of the vehicles were recovered the same days they were stolen.)