CLEARFIELD – One of three Jersey City, NJ men who have been accused of a tire theft at Hubler Brothers Inc. waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday. Thomas Tyrone Rice waived his hearing, while David Lashawn Hadden, 25; Larry Aaron Johnson, 45; and Thomas Tyrone Rice, 20, all of Jersey City, NJ, had their cases continued.
According to a prior Gant story, they will face charges of theft by unlawful taking or disposition; receiving stolen property; unauthorized use of automobiles and other motor vehicles; possessing instruments of crime; criminal attempt/theft by unlawful taking; and loitering and prowling at nighttime.
In addition to those listed above, Hadden has been charged with criminal conspiracy/theft by unlawful taking; Johnson with criminal conspiracy and criminal conspiracy/theft; and Rice with criminal conspiracy/theft by unlawful taking and criminal conspiracy/theft.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Officer Shawn Fye of the Lawrence Township Police Department was on patrol. He then noticed a U-Haul truck that was parked to the rear of two newer ones in the front row of the Hubler Brothers lot.
Fye returned to the lot and pulled in the rear of the U-Haul truck. He indicated the rear door was “slightly open.” He reported that multiple persons were running from the location next to the U-Haul truck.
Fye said two persons ran toward Purcell Tires through a field. At this time, he checked over the U-Haul truck, noticing the passenger side window was broken. He said the glass was still on the floor inside. He also indicated the truck’s ignition had been torn out.
In court documents, Fye said other officers were called to assist him with the two persons on the run. He reported hearing a noise, which came from the roadway in front of Hubler Brothers. He then located a male who was face down in the weeds and later identified as Johnson.
Fye reported other officers located the two persons who had run from the scene. They were later identified as Rice and Hadden. They were transported back to the Hubler Brothers lot before being taken to the Clearfield State Police barracks for fingerprinting.
Fye indicated they needed to confirm their identities, as not all three defendants could produce photo identification. He said he later transported Johnson to the state police barracks for the same purposes.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Fye reported that numerous cement blocks were located in the back of the U-Haul truck. He also found a large, 4-way tire iron and a metal pipe. He said the pipe appeared to be used as a cheater bar to assist in leverage with the iron.
In addition, Fye found a 6-ton, bottle type Kobalt jack in the rear of the U-Haul truck. In the front passenger compartment, he found a screwdriver in the center consol.
He reported loose tobacco and a partially smoked, hand-rolled cigarette on the floor of the truck. He said Johnson was in possession of a pack of tobacco when he was found by police.
Rice’s bail was reduced to $25,000 straight. Bail for the other two men remains at $50,000.