Pictured above is the home at 19275 Route 739 where authorities served a search warrant Friday morning, resulting in the arrest of three individuals believed to be involved in a vehicle theft ring. The photo below shows a 2017 Ford F-350 found at the property that had been stolen from Johnstown in 2018. (Photos submitted)
Suspects in an alleged stolen vehicle ring were taken into custody Friday morning after a search warrant was served at a home in Washington Township.
Detectives from the Multi-Agency Drug Enforcement (M.A.D.E.) Task Force, the Special Response Teams from the Union County Sheriff’s Office and the Marysville Police Division, as well as other officers, took three individuals into custody after searching the home at 19275 Route 739.
The search warrant was said to be the result of a one-month investigation into alleged stolen vehicles. Investigators located firearms and other evidence at the property, including a stolen 2017 Ford F-350 truck, taken from Johnstown in June of 2018.
Three occupants in the residence were arrested for multiple felony warrants from Franklin and Knox County.
All three suspects were turned over to Franklin County Deputies.
Those arrested were:
•Charles R.J. Price, 23, of Columbus, for a probation violation and warrants involving charges of attempted felonious assault, aggravated assault, and failure-to-appear warrants for multiple counts of receiving stolen property.
•Jimmy D. Howell, 31, of Columbus, for a parole violation warrant involving a charge of robbery and a probation violation for non-support of dependents.
•Kristi J. Frabott, 37, of Galloway, for a failure-to-appear warrant for sentencing on multiple theft counts, as well as a probation violation for theft of a motor vehicle.
The MADE Task Force was assisted at the scene by agents from the National Insurance Crime Bureau and units from the Union County Prosecutors Office, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Marysville Fire Division, the Northern Union County Fire and EMS District and the Southeast Hardin Northwest Union Joint Fire District.
When the investigation is completed, the case will be presented to the Union County Prosecutors Office for consideration of additional charges by a future Union County Grand Jury.