LONDON, KY - Laurel County Sheriff John Root is reporting that: Laurel Sheriff's Deputy Stephen Walker along with Laurel Constable Robert Smith arrested two individuals early Sunday morning May 21, 2023 at approximately 2:56 AM.
The arrests occurred on Alumni Circle in London following a traffic stop conducted on a suspicious vehicle, a black four-door Pontiac.
Deputies noted they had been attempting to locate a black Pontiac car that had been reportedly seen in the Laurel Lake area at Marsh Branch Boat Ramp, other Laurel Lake areas, and off U.S. 25 in northern Laurel County.
Deputy Walker and Constable Smith developed information on the whereabouts of the black four-door Pontiac suspect vehicle, locating it in a church parking lot off Fifth Street in London where a traffic stop was conducted.
During the resulting investigation officers found the two individuals in possession of:
- Two catalytic converters
- A Mac book computer
- Three credit/debit cards with a female subject’s name on them
- A driver’s license belonging to another female subject
Tools usually used for cutting catalytic converters were also located in the vehicle.
The two occupants of the vehicle stated they did not know the female subjects whose credit cards they had nor did they know the female subject whose operator's license they had in their possession.
In addition, Deputy Walker and Constable Smith were also notified that two vehicles had been broken into in a parking lot near the London Dock Road and Kentucky 192 intersection, both vehicles had the catalytic converters cut off them.
L to R: Chad Witt and Shawn Abner
The two occupants were arrested and charged and were identified as: Chad Witt age 38 of Phillips Dr., Manchester and Shawn Abner age 31 of Walter Eversole Road, East Bernstadt, KY.
Chad Witt was charged with:
- Theft by unlawful taking – $1000 or more but under $10,000
- Possession of burglary tools
- Criminal mischief – first-degree
- Unlawful act relating to acquiring metals under $3000
- Theft by unlawful taking
Shawn Abner was charged with:
- Criminal mischief – first-degree
- Unlawful act relating to acquiring metals under $3000
- Theft by unlawful taking
- Theft by unlawful taking $1000 or more but under $10,000
- Possession of burglary tools
These two individuals were lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.
Photos of accused attached is courtesy of the Laurel County Correctional Center.
Also assisting on the investigation was Laurel Sheriff's Deputy Skylar McFarland and Deputy Zach Allen.
