Knightstown – Yesterday, shortly after 4:30 p.m. Trooper Rich Silcox was driving past the CVS Drug Store on SR 109 in Knightstown when he saw a car with a New Jersey license plate pull into the lot. A male got out, looked around the lot, and then went inside.  Knowing that the store had been robbed recently, Silcox pulled into the lot and ran the plate, which came back stolen.

When the man came out Silcox spoke with him and took him into custody for Possession of Stolen Property, Class “D” Felony, and on suspicion of Operating While Intoxicated, Class “A” Misdemeanor.  Arrested was  James Wesley Toney, 34, of Indianapolis.  He was lodged in the Henry County Jail on $9,000 bond.

Later in the evening Silcox received a call from a New Jersey Detective who had been notified the stolen car was recovered.  He advised the car was linked with a woman who had fled the state with her six -ear-old child unlawfully and was wanted for parental abduction there.

Through further investigation Silcox located the woman and child at a home in Spiceland, which is northeast of Knightstown.  The six-year-old boy was taken without incident and turned over to CPS to be reunited with his father in New Jersey.  While the mother is wanted on charges in New Jersey, authorities there would not extradite her from Indiana, therefore she or Mr. Toney were not charged in connection with the abduction at this time.

Because of the proactive response of a trooper checking on something that “just didn’t look right,” a six-year-old child will be reunited with his father today. Remember, if you see a vehicle on your road, or in your neighborhood, that doesn’t belong or looks suspicious, call your local state police post or dial 9-1-1 and have it checked out. 

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.