Sheriff's Reports 9-30-24: Stolen vehicle recovered, suspect arrested

A man was arrested after deputies found him occupying a vehicle he was reportedly suspected of stealing.

On Sept. 28, Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputy Jonah Billy was assigned a stolen vehicle report on West 728 Road. A woman said the incident occurred Sept. 26 and Richard Moreno committed assault and battery on her before he took the keys from the Nissan Rouge and fled on foot. A report was filed with the Tahlequah Police Department and the suspect reportedly stated he would leave the vehicle abandoned on the side of the road. Shortly after 4 a.m. Sept. 29, Deputy Justin Richardson was patrolling the area of State Highway 51 and State Highway 10 when he observed two vehicles parked under the bridge, one being a Nissan Rouge that was occupied. The deputy advised the three occupants that the river access under the bridge was for day-use only. All three people said they didn't have identification cards on them but they gave the deputy their names and dates of birth. Dispatch advised the Nissan was confirmed to be stolen and the driver, Moreno, and Ryan Crumley and a woman were ordered out of the vehicle. Moreno was arrested and booked for possession of a stolen vehicle while Crumley was booked for a warrant.

Deputy Dylan Carder was dispatched to East 739 Road Sept. 27 for reports of a domestic in progress. A woman accused Jason Wayne Martin of slapping her. She said Martin left the area on foot but she wasn't sure which direction he went. Carder searched the immediate area for the man and asked people if they saw Martin walking, but the deputy was unable to locate him. Carder went back to the area and was advised that Martin returned. The man was detained and admitted to slapping the woman. According to Carder, Martin said he told the woman he would slap her if she didn't "shut up" while he was on the phone. He said she stuck her face out "as if she wanted to be slapped, so he slapped her." Martin was arrested and booked for domestic assault and battery.

On Sept. 29, Deputy Richardson was patrolling the area of State Highway 82 and North Grand Avenue when he observed a vehicle veer off the road and drive in the grass. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Macy Taylor. Richardson said the odor of alcohol was coming from the vehicle. Taylor was arrested after a field sobriety test and booked for driving under the influence.

Deputy Jaxon Thomlinson was in the area of 585 Road Sept. 30 when he observed a silver truck parked in the grass. The deputy said the vehicle was turned on with its headlights and taillights on so he approached the truck and met with the driver, Anthony Sharp. Sharp said he pulled over to relieve himself and he had left a picnic, and consumed a few beers. Sharp was arrested for public intoxication and transporting an open container.

These are arrests, not convictions.