Facing theft charge

WARREN

Joseph D. Shepard, 28, of Owsley Road in McDonald and Clermont Street in Warren, was arraigned Tuesday in Warren Municipal Court on a theft charge, accused of trying to steal a gun from a vendor at a gun show Sunday.

Police Chief Eric Merkel and Patrolman Lance Adkins were working a side job at the gun show in the Trumbull Plaza on Parkman Road Northwest, when a man walked up to them holding Shepard by the shirt and alleging he had taken a gun.

The dealer selling the gun told police a fellow gun dealer asked him at 1:51 p.m. if he was missing a gun, and the dealer realized he was. The other dealer advised him the thief was walking toward the door, so the dealer caught up to him and took him to the police.

Police investigated and let Shepard leave but later viewed a video of what happened and saw Shepard who appeared to be watching for the right moment, then used a pocket knife to cut the wire tie that was holding the gun into the display, then slid the alarm off the gun, took it and walked away.

A not-guilty plea was entered, and Shepard was released after agreeing to a $3,500 personal recognizance bond, meaning he didn’t have to pay anything.