A man accused of stealing two motorcycles earlier this week has been caught and remains in the county jail.
Jerad Travis Hager, 25, was spotted Monday night in the same area as a reported motorcycle theft on Artz Road.
The Rowan County Sheriff Office placed Hager on its most wanted list following the theft of two motorcycles, one on Rockwood Drive, off Artz Road, and the other on Mt. Hope Church Road. Both motorcycles were located in wooded areas not far from the homes where they were stolen.
Authorities received a phone call from someone who said he saw a suspicious person matching Hager’s description on Artz Road. The suspicious person wore a black hood and ripped jeans.
Another witness spotted a man believed to be Hager get inside a white Honda and head toward Villa Woods, a mobile home park near Faith. The vehicle was thought to be the same Honda seen on surveillance video over the weekend that involved Hager.
Deputies and officers from the Granite Quarry-Faith Police Authority went to a convenience store in Faith where the clerk said a male matching Hager’s description had just left in a white work van. The clerk said the male called a ride to pick him up from the store. The clerk overheard the suspect say he was heading to a ball field in Faith.
Officials went to the Faith ball field where they found Hager sitting inside a van. Hager gave an officer the name Matthew Hager. The officer had a picture of Jerad Hager and was able to positively identify him.
He was charged with misdemeanor resist, obstruct, delay and officer, felony breaking and entering, two counts of misdemeanor larceny, felony larceny and misdemeanor failure to appear. He remained in the jail Tuesday under a $35,000 secured bond.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.