5 implicated in Perkins theft ring

PERKINS TWP. — Five people were arrested on Wednesday after allegedly participating in multiple thefts from Perkins Township businesses. Those arrested and charged are: • Tawan Dixon, 43, of the 200 block of W. North St., Fostoria, who is facing two felony counts of receiving stolen property and one misdemeanor count of the same charge. • Jeremy A. Hoot, 48, of the 1100 block of South Ave., Toledo, who is facing one count each of felony theft, felony receiving stolen property and misdemeanor receiving stolen property, one felony count of tampering with evidence, and one count of open container of alcohol, a misdemeanor. • Richard L. Mullins, 51, of the 1300 block of Primrose Ave., Toledo, who is facing one felony count and one misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property as well as fictitious registration, a misdemeanor. • Courtney J. Niemiec, 43, no address listed, who is facing one felony and one misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property. • Trey L. Porter, 40, of the 2500 block of Keygate Drive, Toledo, who is facing one count each of felony theft, felony receiving stolen property and misdemeanor receiving stolen property. What's alleged? At about 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, officers were called to a sporting goods store in the 4000 block of Milan Road (U.S. 250) for the report of a man with an armful of store merchandise dashing from the store without paying. Officers arrived on scene and were directed toward another store at the other end of the plaza. Witnesses said the man entered a gray car and drove through the plaza. The car was located in the parking lot of a car dealership in the 900 block of E. Strub Road, according to a Perkins police report. A man and a woman began walking away from the vehicle, but were ordered back to the car. A second man was in the driver's seat of the Chevrolet, the report states. There were two further men in the rear seat of the car. All five people were detained by police pending a theft investigation. The driver denied any knowledge of anything being stolen. The rear seat passengers individually told officers they hadn't stolen anything and were not inside the sporting goods store, the report states. The driver was asked from the car and searched, with officers reportedly finding drug paraphernalia. He told officers he was unaware of anything being stolen. The woman claimed she had not stolen anything and blamed one of the rear passengers, the report states. The final man claimed he did not know the passenger who was blamed for the thefts and did not know he was stealing. All five were then formally arrested and charged. What was taken Employees from the sporting goods store claimed their merchandise and provided police with a receipt for more than $1,300. In the vehicle's trunk, officers located meat, seafood and candles. They were able to determine that some of this property was stolen from a business in the 4700 block of Milan Road (U.S. 250). An employee of that business claimed that store's property and provided police with a receipt for more than $1,500. As the food items were considered damaged, they were written off. Some of the remaining property was found to come from a store in the 5500 block of Milan Road (U.S. 250). An employee of that store claimed her store's merchandise and provided a receipt for more than $700. The last of the suspected stolen goods were determined to have been taken from stores in other jurisdictions. All five people were transported to Erie County Jail and incarcerated. All five have plea hearings scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday in Sandusky Municipal Court. As of late Friday, Dixon is no longer listed on the jail roster. The others are still incarcerated and have bonds ranging from $13,000 to $19,000.