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Sheriff deputies nab alleged car thief in sting
An undercover sting by the Vernon County Sheriff's Office resulted in the arrest of Johnnie Lee Ryan early Friday morning. According to Vernon County Sheriff Jason Mosher, Lt. John Randall was the lead investigator on a case involving stolen vehicles that led to an undercover sting conducted by agents with the Vernon County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff Mosher said a confidential informant wearing a wire made a sale with marked money to Johnnie Ryan while under surveillance by plain clothes sheriff's deputies. The sale took place in the Hardee's parking lot around 10:30 a.m. Friday.
Undercover deputies watched as the cash was exchanged for three vehicles that did not belong to Ryan. Vernon County Sheriff's investigators allege that this is not the first time Ryan has sold vehicles that did not belong to him. As Ryan began to leave the area where the sale took place, numerous deputies swarmed around Ryan blocking both lanes of Main Street just off of Austin Boulevard in Nevada. The cash was recovered and Ryan was placed under arrest.
In a probable cause statement filed by Randall, a theft of a 1978 Chevy Suburban was reported on March 21 and on March 22 a 1996 Buick Regal was reported stolen. A third, older green Buick had also been reported stolen from a residence south of Ricketts. After investigating the reports Randall believed that all three thefts might be related.
A tip to the sheriffs office suggested that a suspect might be trying to sell three more vehicles. At this point surveillance was set up and the wire was placed.
Charges were filed with the Vernon County Prosecutor Friday afternoon and a warrant was issued for three felony counts alleging tampering with a motor vehicle. Bond was set at $25,000 cash only. Ryan is currently being held in the Vernon County Jail.