Flower Pot Theft Lands Steuben County Man in Jail for Auto Theft

DEKALB COUNTY, IN -  A Steuben County man was arrested this afternoon on an auto theft warrant after it was alleged that he stole an unknown number of flower pots from the Kroger store, located in the 600 block of E. Dupont Road in Fort Wayne. 

Indiana State Police Sergeant Mike Toles observed a silver-colored Chevrolet Cavalier traveling northbound on I-69 near County Road 11A, at approximately 3:00 pm, which matched the description of the suspect vehicle given by the Fort Wayne Police Department. 

Toles and Trooper Chris Levitt initiated a felony traffic stop, northbound on I-69, just north of the 127 mile marker, just outside of Auburn.  After detaining the two occupants of the vehicle, and filtering through a false identity given by the passenger, it was learned that the passenger, Mark H. Sidle, 31, of Hamilton, was wanted by authorities in Steuben County on an arrest warrant for auto theft. 

Sidle was taken into custody without incident and transported to the DeKalb County Jail in Auburn where he will be held awaiting transportation back to Steuben County.  The driver of the vehicle was not arrested at the time and the Fort Wayne Police Department is investigating the theft from the Kroger store. 

Assisting at the scene was Trooper Jen Holt, the Auburn Police Department and the DeKalb County Sheriff Department. 

Arrested and charged:

• Mark Henry Sidle, 31, 7446 S. Brookside Drive, Hamilton, IN
• Arrest Warrant For Auto Theft, Class D Felony (Steuben County)