On Friday, June 6, at approximately 7:00 PM, Bellefontaine police observed a Gray pick-up truck, pulling a blue Mustang, leave the parking lot of the Loves Truck Stop at US 33 and State Route 540.
As it turned westbound onto State Route 540, the officers observed it make an improper turn, turning into the inside lane of travel, causing the officers to initiate a traffic stop with the vehicle on US 33.
The driver of the vehicle, Matthew Friedel, 37, of Friedmont, Indiana, said he was just swinging it wide to ensure the turn was safe.
When asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle, Friedel admitted that he had just purchased the truck, and the tags on the vehicle were fictitious.
While checking the vehicle’s information, K9 Officers arrived to assist.
K9 Pyro was deployed for a vehicle sniff and gave a positive alert to a narcotic odor.
During a probable cause search of the vehicle, officers located a methamphetamine pipe above the passenger sun visor in the roof of the vehicle, and another glass pipe was located underneath the driver’s seat.
Officers then searched the blue Ford Mustang and located a digital scale covered in a white residue hidden underneath the carpet on the driver’s side floor near the center console.
At this point, Friedel was detained to allow officers to search the vehicles more thoroughly.
The passenger, who would not identify himself, was detained in handcuffs to be placed in a patrol car.
At this time, he identified himself as Austin McCarty, who was found to have two nationwide warrants, one from Michigan and one from Indiana.
McCarty was told of his warrants and transported to the Logan County Jail.
During the additional search, officers located a license plate in the bed of the truck.
Upon running the license plate, the plate returned on a stolen trailer from Indiana.
The license plate was attached to a plastic wheel cover that was consistent with what was on the car tow dolly that was towing the Mustang.
When asked about the license plate in the bed of his truck, Friedel explained that he allowed one of his friends to use the tow dolly.
When the friend returned the dolly, it had the license plate attached to it.
Friedel explained further that he knew the dolly did not require a license plate and removed it.
Friedel claimed he did not know it was stolen.
At this point, he, too, was placed under arrest for receiving stolen property and handcuffed behind his back.
Shafer’s towing was called, and they towed both vehicles.
Officers were unable to locate a readable VIN on the trailer, which raised concerns about whether the trailer was legally obtained by Friedel.
Friedel was charged with receiving stolen property and was lodged in the Logan County Jail.
McCarthy is being lodged in the Logan County Jail awaiting extradition.
