**THIS STORY CONTAINS UPDATED INFORMATION**
COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Coldwater Police say they arrested a 28-year-old Coldwater man on Sunday morning for trying to steal a catalytic convertor from a vehicle parked on Industrial Avenue.
According to police, a witness called 9-1-1 shortly before 7:00 a.m. to report a man was cutting a catalytic convertor from a Ford Ranger pickup truck. When police arrived, the suspect fled the scene on foot.
A K-9 unit from the Michigan State Police was called in to assist with the search and the suspect was apprehended a short time later in a hole near the crime scene.
The suspect was identified in court documents as Darin Edward Smullen. He was arraigned on Monday in Branch County District Court on charges of attempted larceny from a motor vehicle and malicious destruction of personal property between $1,000 and $20,000.
According to a probable cause affadavit, Smullen admitted to police he was involved in other similar thefts across the county and city.
Prosecutors filed an habitual offender third notice sentencing enhancer against Smullen due to his past criminal history. According to court documents, he was convicted in 2001 for being in possession of less than 25 grams of a controlled substance and in May of 2022 on a felony charge of assault with a dangerous weapon.
Not guilty pleas were entered on Smullen’s behalf and his bond was set at $5,000. A probable cause hearing was scheduled for February 23 with a preliminary exam set for March 1.
Coldwater Public Safety Director Joe Scheid says this is one of several thefts of catalytic convertors in recent months in the Branch County area.
In addition to the State Police, the Branch County Sheriff’s Office assisted Coldwater Police.
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