Deputies arrest suspected car thief, victim

A Williamsburg man, who allegedly stole a car, and the man, who he allegedly took the car from, were both arrested following a sheriff’s department investigation early Sunday morning.

About 1:30 a.m., Whitley County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Deputy Brian Hensley responded to a report that a car had been stolen at gunpoint from a residence along Highway 904.

Whitley County E911 provided Hensley with a description of the vehicle, a silver 2001 Ford Mustang. While Hensley was en route to where the theft occurred, he passed what appeared to be the stolen vehicle, according to a sheriff’s department release.

The Mustang, which was traveling in the opposite direction, accelerated after passing Hensley, who lost site of the vehicle but believed that it may have turned onto Yaden Cemetery Road, according to the release.

Hensley located the vehicle behind a garage along that road with the lights out. He performed a felony stop on the vehicle and discovered 23-year-old Ethan S. Powers inside, according to an arrest citation.

Powers was taken into custody with a fanny pack around his waist, which contained 10 pills believed to be Clonazepam. In Powers’ possession was $465 cash, plastic baggies and a set of digital weighing scales. The pills were sent to the Kentucky State Police Crime Lab for testing, according to an arrest citation.

Powers initially told police that his name was Devin Robinson, but when Williamsburg Police Officer Cody Jeffries showed up on scene to assist, he told Hensley his real name, according to an arrest citation.

Hensley charged Powers with first-degree fleeing or evading police, receiving stolen property under $10,000, third-degree possession of a controlled substance, third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, giving an officer a false name or address, driving on a suspended or revoked license and warrants for non payment of fines and failure to appear.

The Mustang’s owner, Orlando Luna, 33, of London, was asked to look through the car to determine if anything was missing. In the car were two cell phones, which Luna told Hensley were his. It was later determined that Luna took an i-Phone knowing it was not his but belonged to Powers, according to the release.

Luna was found to be in possession of a small quantity of pills believed to be Clonazepam and a needle, according to the release.

Hensley charged Luna with attempted theft by unlawful taking over $500, third-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both Powers and Luna were lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

Luna was released from jail about 2:43 p.m. Sunday.

Powers pleaded not guilty to his newest charges during his arraignment Monday before Whitley District Judge Cathy Prewitt.

Prewitt scheduled a Jan. 12 preliminary hearing and set a $25,000 cash bond in the case.

Jeffries and Deputy James Tabor assisted Hensley at the scene.