Police Catch Suspect Who Stole Truck with Man in Bed

Last week, a man jumped into the bed of his pickup truck as it was being stolen from Maplewood Commons. 

Maplewood Police announced Tuesday that they have arrested the suspect in the case.

The suspect, a 28-year-old East St. Louis, IL man, is currently being held in the St. Clair County Jail on unrelated charges. Maplewood detectives will be applying for warrants on multiple charges at the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

See our previous story: Victim Fights With Thief Through Broken Window as Stolen Truck Barrels Down Highway 40

On Thursday, March 7, as the truck's owner was walking out of a business, he saw his truck leaving the parking lot. The victim chased the truck around the parking lot then jumped into the bed of the truck.

The suspect drove north on Hanley Road and east on Highway 40. The owner broke out the back window of the truck and tried to force the suspect to stop, as the truck was going over the speed limit.

The suspect then slowed and stopped on the shoulder of the highway. Both the suspect and the victim got out. The victim received minor injuries, then the suspect got back in the truck and drove away, going east on Highway 40.

The victim’s vehicle has not been recovered as of today’s date.