WARREN, Pa. – A Jamestown man is facing 11 felony charges stemming from a string of vehicle thefts earlier this week.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Grant Monroe, 46 of Jamestown, allegedly stole three different vehicles between Tuesday, Aug. 15, and the early morning hours of Wednesday, Aug. 16.
Online court records show Monroe is facing three counts each of felony receiving stolen property, felony DUI: highest rate of alcohol BAC of .16+ (4th offense), and felony DUI: general impairment (1st offense), along with two counts of felony theft of a motor vehicle and a pair of summary traffic violations.
According to the affidavit, Monroe allegedly took a 2011 Nissan Rogue with New York registration from 321 Hazeltine Street in Jamestown on Aug. 15.
At approximately 11:55 p.m. on Aug. 15, an off-duty officer observed an erratic driver operating a vehicle matching the Rogue’s description and registration near Dunham’s Sporting Goods in North Warren, according to the affidavit. After searching for the vehicle for approximately an hour, police were told of a suspicious person looking in vehicles in the area of Fifth Avenue and Hickory Street in Warren.
While searching for the person, officers discovered and secured the Nissan Rogue at 1586 Market Street, according to the affidavit.
Officers were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident at approximately 1:18 a.m. on Aug. 16 at 1816 Pennsylvania Avenue West. On arrival, officers found Monroe inside a 2017 Ford truck belonging to Allegheny Contracting of Ridgway, according to the affidavit.
According to the affidavit, “Monroe was taken into custody and refused any standard field sobriety tests. He also requested to speak with an attorney. Officer (Shane) Kelly did read the DL-26 form to (Monroe) and he agreed to a blood draw.”
Police said multiple witnesses saw Monroe operating two different vehicles near the accident site on Pennsylvania Ave. The first witness saw Monroe operating a 2016 Nissan van or truck belonging to Clopp and Hoisington, LLC, police said.
According to the affidavit, the witness saw Monroe driving the van heading east on the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks.
“(Monroe) attempted to turn around resulting in him driving, and damaging property at 1818 Pennsylvania Ave W,” according to the affidavit.
Police said “within five minutes” of Monroe exiting the van, two other witnesses observed him operating the Allegheny Contracting truck before officers arrived.
The arresting officer, Jason Woodin, said in the affidavit that while in custody Monroe “admitted to drinking and being a drug user. He seemed erratic with his thoughts, yelling about random things including being a US Marine, and talking about using LSD at concerts.”
Police believe Monroe may have committed other crimes during this period and are asking anyone with additional information to come forward.
Monroe was arraigned before Forest County Magisterial District Judge Daniel Miller and remanded to the Warren County Jail after failing to post $75,000 bail. Miller presided over the arraignment because MDJ Todd Woodin is related to the arresting officer.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled before MDJ Raymon Zydonik at 1 p.m. on Aug. 23.
