WHITE CO., Ill. - A situation Saturday caused a bit of concern for drivers on a rural White County road after a vehicle turned up stolen...and in a creek.
Sheriff Doug Maier advised that at about 10:42 a.m. Saturday (February 16), dispatch received a call from a concerned citizen in reference to a vehicle in a creek. Deputy Randy Graves responded to the scene, located at 1600N several feet east of 600E.
When Graves arrived, he observed a black Ford Fusion in the creek, the plate umber of which came back to Colton Spruell, 28, of Grayville. The vehicle was not in the system as being reported stolen. Dispatch sent Don's Bumper to Bumper out to tow the vehicle out of the creek.
While awaiting for Don's, Graves made a few phone calls and was able to get a message for the owner (Spruell) to call the sheriff's department. Spruell advised that he didn't know the vehicle was missing, and made arrangements to meet with Graves at the sheriff's department.
Graves directed Don's to treat the vehicle as a stolen one, and to preserve any evidence when being loaded. Graves reports that he was able to locate a few prints on the vehicle where someone had touched it after it was in the water.
Graves then met with Spruell, who advised that the last time he'd seen the vehicle was the night before (Friday the 15th) at approximately 10 p.m. when it was at his residence. Spruell reported that the vehicle was locked ad Spruell said he had both sets of keys.
A complaint for probable cause was signed by Spruell for Theft over $500. Anyone with any information can call the White County Sheriff's Office at 618-382-5321.