Following a traffic stop in Belle at about 2:15 a.m. last Tuesday, July 6, Deputy Jesse Henson observed several items in the bed of the truck driven by Kerry J. Haines, 36, of Belle, which led to a charge a receiving stolen property.

Haines, who became irate and argumentative when Henson told him to exit the vehicle, was held in custody for driving without a valid license as authorities took inventory of the items in the vehicle.

Among the items found were several flat pry bars, hammers, and a DeWalt cordless chainsaw. On the battery attached to the cordless chainsaw, Henson observed the marking “DSL” in black marker.

Due to communication with Owensville residents and law enforcement officials from Gasconade County, Henson said he knew the marking “DSL” to be the initials of a victim which had recently suffered an approximately $15,000 loss as a result of a theft. 

The inventory search of the vehicle yielded additional DeWalt cordless batteries, also labeled “DSL.” 

During the inventory of the vehicle, Henson seized the following property: a DeWalt XR 20V Brushless Chainsaw w/ battery – labeled “DSL” (valued at $150), a DeWalt 20V Lithium Ion Battery – labeled “DSL” (valued at $180 -pair of batteries), a DeWalt Flex Volt 60V Lithium Ion Battery 9.0 AH (valued at $200), a Sony personal audio docking station, a Moultrie MCG 13238 Trail Camera, a Moultrie MCG 13202 Trail Camera, a Mr. Heater Buddy Heater, a BlueMax Brush Cutter/Trimmer 2 Stroke 42.7cc , a Stiletto 14-ounce Titanium Hammer with oversized handle (valued at $135), an Eastwing Hammer, 460 Channel Lock pliers (valued at $54), a Vaughan Super Bar Blue flat bar (valued at $17), a black flat pry bar (valued at $14), a large, black hexagon pry bar (valued at $17), a Stanley stud-finder (valued at $30), a Milwaukee carpenter pen (valued at $7), a Rigid No. 15 pipe-cutter), HK Porter 24-inch Series 2000 bolt-cutters, a camouflage welding mask), a Honda EB3500X generator, an Apple iPod, and assorted hand tools and wrenches.

Also located in the vehicle, but left secured in the vehicle, was assorted clothing, fishing poles, fishing tackle, propane regulators, gas cans, and unscratched lottery tickets. The vehicle was removed by Owens Towing of Belle.

The victims of the crime which reportedly occurred in Gasconade County met with Henson and Lt. Justin Carnes at the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, where the seized property was secured. The victims were able to identify the property of which they were deprived, and provide an estimated total cost of the loss. In his probable cause statement, Henson noted that Haines has had multiple failure to appear warrants issued for his arrest in Maries County as well as Crawford County. Bond was set at $5,000.

(Neal Johnson edits and reports out of Linn for Warden Publishing’s Unterrified Democrat).