DARKE COUNTY, OH — Four individuals, including two adults and two juveniles, were arrested in connection with a string of road sign thefts, including multiple stop signs, across Darke County.
The Darke County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Dylan Hemmelgarn, 18, of New Weston, and Jeremiah Wagner, 18, of Versailles, were taken into custody on felony theft charges. Two unnamed juvenile males were also arrested and transported to West Central Juvenile Detention Center in Miami County.
The arrests took place on Wednesday, July 23, following an ongoing investigation into missing road signage reported by the Darke County Engineer’s Office and Sheriff Mark Whittaker. Officials said the thefts occurred primarily during the overnight hours.
Hemmelgarn was arrested at a residence on Darke-Mercer County Line Road.
Wagner was apprehended on North Steffin Street in Versailles.
Both adult suspects are currently held in the Darke County Jail awaiting arraignment. No bond has been set as of yet.
Sheriff Whittaker credited community tips and cooperation with helping deputies resolve the case swiftly. “We appreciate the public’s involvement in helping us bring this to a close,” he said.
The stolen signs posed a significant safety risk, according to county officials, who have been working to replace the missing signage.
