KNOX COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A man in Knox County, Indiana, has been arrested after he allegedly sold a 345-pound bell that had been stolen from a local church, according to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO).
Court documents show, that on February 6, KCSO responded to a church on East Royal Oak Road, in Vincennes, after it was reported that an old church bell had been stolen from the property.
In a probable cause affidavit, KSCO Deputy Matt McCormick said when he arrived on the scene, he found a wooden stand that had been damaged, a brown rusty-looking pipe wrench and clothing items lying on the ground.
Then on February 10, KCSO made contact with the owner of B&B Recycling, after it was reported that the bell was located in Newton, Illinois, according to court documents. He stated that two male subjects contacted him on February 6, asking about yellow brass pricing. Officials said the 345-pound bell had been cut into pieces and sold to the recycling company for a total of $724.50.
The owner of the recycling company then provided officers with a picture of a receipt of the purchase, that included an Indiana driver’s number and the name Travis Heath, said court documents.
Deputies then made contact with Heath, and asked him to come to the jail to speak about the incident but he declined and stated it wouldn’t be a good idea to come to the jail because it “scared him”, according to a probable cause affidavit.
A warrant was then issued for Heath’s arrest, and on February 25 Heath was taken into custody and charged with theft (a level 6 felony) and criminal mischief (a level 6 felony)
Heath was transported to the Knox County Jail and then was released after posting 10% of the $5,000 bond, according to officials.
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