JASPER COUNTY, Iowa (WOWT) — A man is in custody after allegedly stealing a car from a West Omaha dealership and driving nearly 200 miles before being arrested in central Iowa.
Damien A. Alexander, 25, was booked into jail in Jasper County, Iowa, on charges of first-degree theft, reckless driving, and failure to provide aid after a traffic accident.
The incident unfolded early Friday morning when deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office were notified of a burglary at Onyx Automotive near 144th and West Dodge Road in Omaha. Authorities say security footage shows a suspect, believed to be Alexander, attempting to break into the sales manager’s office and searching through several vehicles.
The suspect is then seen running between the showroom and the vehicle service area, trying to find keys for specific cars. Eventually, Alexander located the keys to a BMW SUV and drove it out of a security gate.
Several hours later, an Iowa State Patrol trooper spotted the stolen vehicle and arrested Alexander in Jasper County, nearly 200 miles away from the dealership in Omaha.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are continuing to gather information on the suspect’s movements and the circumstances surrounding the theft.