Officers catch suspect twice in same night

5/10/2006

VAN WERT - A Van Wert man charged with breaking into a local gas station almost got away - twice.

Van Wert police said they were notified of a burglar alarm at the Certified gas station on North Washington Street just after 2 a.m. Monday. Glass in the front door was broken, police said, and someone had entered the business.

Officers searched the area and stopped William W. Stephey II, 19. Police said he had some items taken from the gas station on him. Officers arrested him and took him to the police station about 2:45 a.m., but he got free from the handcuffs securing him to a desk and escaped at 3:22 a.m.

Police said they recaptured him in the 400 block of East Main Street just before 10 a.m. Mr. Stephey was being held in the Van Wert County jail on charges of breaking and entering and escape.