3 arrested for off-road vehicle theft

SULLIVAN COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) - Indiana Conservation Officers have arrested three people for the alleged theft of an off-road vehicle.

While patrolling at the Black Beauty’s Bear Run coal mine near Pleasantville, officers spotted an unoccupied, suspicious vehicle parked in a remote area off of County Road 900 East.

Officers then saw an off-road vehicle, with three men inside, approach the parked car. When officers attempted to stop the men for trespassing they fled the scene in both vehicles.

A pursuit began but was terminated shortly after when it was deemed unsafe.

Later that night, police received a call about a suspicious vehicle near the location where the car was last seen.

A 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier was located with two men inside.

Both were arrested and taken to the Sullivan County Jail.

Christopher R. Roark and Wendell Stewart were arrested. The third suspect, Damond W. Roark Jr. was found the next day and arrested.

Officers located the off-road vehicle and learned it was recently stolen from a storage barn south of Pleasantville.

Christopher R. Roark faces preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, a Class D felony, theft and receiving stolen property, a Class D felony, criminal recklessness, a Class A misdemeanor, and reckless driving, a Class B misdemeanor.

Wendell Stewart faces preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor and theft and receiving stolen property, a Class D felony.

Damond W. Roark Jr. faces preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement, a Class D felony and theft and receiving stolen property, a Class D felony.