Adair County Sheriff’s Deputy Tracy McCarol arrested a 60-year old Adair County man over the weekend who later admitted to stealing a pair of vehicles as well as fleeing the scene of multiple wrecks on Fairground Street.
Sheriff Josh Brockman’s office reports that the department was assisting Columbia Police Saturday in locating a stolen Dodge pickup truck that was involved in a collision. A gate that appeared to have been recently plowed through on state Route 551 caught the eye of Chief Deputy Brandon Hitch, and the officer managed to locate the truck but not the driver, who had fled on foot.
The sheriff’s office turned the vehicle over to CPD, who continue to lead the investigation. A short time later, Adair Deputy Tracy McCarol was called to investigate an abandoned vehicle on Bull Run Lane. Upon arrival, McCarol checked with the registered owner to confirm that the truck, a 2000 GMC, was stolen. While McCarol was in the process of handing the truck back over to its rightful owner, deputies located and detained a male subject they spotted coming out of the woods.
Daryl Hale admitted to officers that he stole both vehicles and was involved in the accidents. McCarol charged Hale with theft by unlawful taking (auto), between $1,000 and $10,000 and second-degree criminal mischief.
The Columbia Police Dept. continues to investigate the first truck theft and more charges are pending.
