Illinois man arrested after stolen car runs out of gas

A Centralia, Illinois, man was arrested in Scott County when he returned to a stolen car that had run out of gas on a highway.

Joshua D. McDonald, 34, was charged with felony tampering with a motor vehicle, felony receiving stolen property and misdemeanor driving with a revoked license.

Scott County sheriff's officers responded to a 911 call at 11:13 p.m. Dec. 23 about an abandoned vehicle blocking the northbound lane of U.S. 61, according to the probable-cause statement from Scott County sheriff's Sgt. Justin Wooten. Officers found the 1999 Lincoln Town Car was reported stolen Dec. 23. With no one around it, Wooten ordered the vehicle towed.

About that time, McDonald got out of a vehicle parked on the southbound side of U.S. 61 and walked toward the stolen car.

"(He) advised he had run out of gas and was just now returning to claim the vehicle," Wooten wrote.

Wooten found the keys to the stolen vehicle in McDonald's jacket pocket after putting McDonald in handcuffs, according to the statement.

Wooten later found McDonald had a revoked driver's license and a criminal history in four states, including a probation violation warrant from Florida, Wooten wrote.

McDonald's bond was set at $10,000.

bkleine@semissourian.com

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