Custar man arrested in trailer theft

3/1/2007

BOWLING GREEN A Custar, Ohio man was arrested last night and charged with stealing a utility trailer owned by the Wood County Emergency Management Agency from a parking lot behind the Wood County Hospital.

William E. Minnecker, 40, is being held in the Wood County jail on a charge of receiving stolen property. He is accused in the Feb. 22 theft of a trailer that contained a $19,000 decontamination unit that is stored at the hospital in the event a patient is brought in who must undergo decontamination before entering the hospital for treatment.

The inflatable unit was later found discarded at a North Toledo car wash, but the trailer remains missing.

Bowling Green Police Lt. Tony Hetrick said investigators were able to identify the suspect s vehicle after viewing video from the Lagrange Street car wash where the contents of the trailer were discovered. Their investigation led them to Mr. Minnecker who reportedly admitted taking the trailer.

Lieutenant Hetrick said Mr. Minnecker agreed to turn himself in yesterday but never showed up, prompting police to issue an arrest warrant. He was picked up in Hancock County about 8:30 p.m. by the Ohio Highway Patrol, he said.

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