A Rushsylvania man has been arrested after deputies say he threatened a man with a gun and stole his truck before being stopped in Bellefontaine.
Deputies from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office were called shortly after 9:00 PM on Saturday to a home on West Rush Street in Rushsylvania.
The caller reported that a man had put a gun to his head and taken his truck.
The victim told dispatch that the suspect, 46-year-old Rex Kidder, left in his black Chevrolet 2500 pickup truck and headed toward the village park.
While responding, deputies saw a truck matching the description traveling south on U.S. 68 near the Farm Credit Bank in Bellefontaine.
After confirming the license plate, deputies attempted a traffic stop.
The truck continued driving for a short distance before stopping in the parking lot of McDonald’s on North Main Street.
Deputies performed a high-risk traffic stop.
The driver did not fully follow commands at first, but deputies were able to take him into custody with help from the Bellefontaine Police Department.
The suspect was identified as Kidder.
Deputies reported that they found a Smith & Wesson M&P pepper ball pistol in the truck.
The gun looks like a real handgun and was loaded with one pepper ball and two metal pellets.
Deputies also reported smelling alcoholic beverages on Kidder and said two 12-packs of Bud Light were inside the truck.
Kidder was taken to the Logan County Jail.
According to the victim, he first met Kidder at a gas station in Rushsylvania.
The two later drove to Huntsville to look for a friend of Kidder’s, but the friend was not home.
They returned to the victim’s house and sat in the truck while Kidder drank alcohol.
The victim told deputies that Kidder became angry during their conversation and demanded to know where another person was.
When the victim said he didn’t know, Kidder allegedly pulled out a gun, pointed it at his head, and threatened to shoot him.
The victim said he pushed the gun away and got out of the truck to find his phone.
Kidder again pointed the gun at him and threatened him.
The victim ran away while calling 911, and when he looked back, the truck was gone.
During an interview with investigators the next day, Kidder said the victim allowed him to borrow the truck to go to McDonald’s.
He admitted owning the pepper ball gun but denied threatening the victim.
Kidder is currently in the Logan County Jail and is charged with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, and aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor.
An additional charge of grand theft of a motor vehicle may be added if the victim provides proof that he owns the truck.
