CLINTON, Okla. – A Clinton man has been arrested and charged with grand larceny for allegedly stealing a lawnmower valued at $4,250. Ricardo Vela, 47, was taken into custody on October 8 following a lengthy investigation by Clinton police that began in late June.
According to a probable cause affidavit, police responded to a report of found property on June 30. A man reported that a friend had seen his missing lawnmower, which had been unaccounted for since June 27, at a nearby residence. The man then drove to the house to confirm the sighting and subsequently called the police.
The affidavit states that the man provided officers with a photograph of the lawnmower’s serial number, which matched the number on the mower found at the residence. Upon running the serial number, police received a hit on the National Crime Information Center database.
During their investigation, officers spoke with the homeowner, who claimed he had purchased the mower for $280 from an individual in the 1100 block of Modelle Avenue.
On July 1, police requested to view camera footage from another residence, where they observed a male subject riding a red lawnmower. Officers then made contact with Vela and noted that he was wearing clothing similar to that of the suspect captured in the footage. When questioned about the lawnmower, Vela reportedly claimed ignorance of the situation. However, when informed that he was recorded taking the mower, he denied the allegations.
The affidavit indicates that officers attempted to revisit Vela an hour later, but he was not present. A warrant for his arrest was issued on September 25, and he was ultimately apprehended on October
