Burglary suspects arrested; one posts bond and steals truck, sheriff says

EATON, Ohio (WKEF) -- The Preble County Sheriff's Office says it arrested a man and woman accused of a May 9 burglary. One of those suspect is then accused of posting bond and stealing a car minutes later.

The Preble County Sheriff's Office said that public assistance helped lead investigators initially to the suspects, identified as Katherine Steele, 33, and Justin McTeer, 39.

Both had been arrested in Montgomery County on unrelated charges and were transported to Preble County on May 16. They were then charged in Eaton Municipal Court with breaking and entering and theft.

The sheriff's office said that Steele remains behind bars, while McTeer posted bond the afternoon of May 16.

McTeer is accused of stealing a pickup truck from a gas station on North Barron Street in Eaton just minutes after his release from jail.

The truck reportedly struck several mailboxes before crashing in the 5200 block of Lexington Road, east of Eaton. He also is accused of "initiating a physical confrontation" with a passerby who had reportedly stopped to check on the driver of the crash. He also is suspected of attempting to steal that person's vehicle.

McTeer reportedly fled the scene of the crash but was arrested by Preble County deputies within minutes.

He is now being held in the Preble County Jail on a robbery charge and other charges are pending.

“We sincerely appreciate the tips that we received by many people which allowed us to positively identify the suspects in the original burglary investigation,” Preble County Sheriff Mike Simpson said.