A truck gets stolen out of a Vernal vape shop parking lot.
- Travis Uresk
- Oct 23, 2024
- 3 min read
By Travis Uresk
10/23/24
| Vernal, Ut. | October 19th, 2024 |
The victim stated that he last drove the vehicle on 10/7/24 and possibly left the window down and the keys in the ignition. The vehicle stolen was a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
The victim stated the truck was parked in the parking lot of Xvertuz Vapes, located at 1085 East US-40.
The officer watched the surveillance footage and saw a white male walking across the parking lot of Xvertuz Vapes. The male walked to the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado, opened the door, and entered the truck. After a short time, the truck exited the parking lot and traveled westbound on US-40.
The male was wearing a light-colored button-up shirt, dark jeans, and white shoes. He was wearing glasses and appeared to have tattoos on both of his forearms. The male had short dark hair and a dark-colored beard.
On 10/10/2024, Officer Randall spoke with an employee at Xvertuz Vapes. The employee stated an anonymous person had information regarding the male seen in the surveillance footage. The employee said the anonymous person had let the male from the footage use his phone.
The anonymous person stated that the male had told him his name was Jacob. The employee said Jacob was at the Gateway Saloon on 10/09/2024.
Officer Randall received more surveillance footage from the Gateway Saloon. The officer observed the male, identified as 43-year-old Jacob Lavon Minchey, wearing a white and blue plaid button-up shirt, blue jeans, and white shoes. The male had short brown hair and a brown beard. The male wore glasses and had tattoos on both of his forearms.
On 10/19/24, Officer Randall performed a records check on Jacob Minchey and found that he had been arrested in Duchesne County on 10/15/24. He looked at Jacob's booking photo and positively identified him as the male who stole the truck.
Later, Officer Randall spoke with Jacob at the Duchesne County Jail and advised him of his rights. The officer asked Jacob to walk him through his day on 10/9/24.
He stated he was walking to Roosevelt from Heber City. He was picked up and given a ride to Vernal when he was between Heber and Roosevelt. When in Vernal Jacob went to a bar and consumed alcohol until the bar closed. Jacob stated he passed out and didn't remember the rest of the night, and when he woke up he was in the desert in the Gusher area.
The officer showed Jacob a photo from the surveillance footage at the Gateway Saloon. Officer Randall asked Jacob if the photo was of him, and he stated it was. He was then asked if he remembered stealing a truck, and he said he did not.
Officer Randall told Jacob he needed to find the truck to return it to its owner. Jacob stated he took the truck to the desert north of US-40 in the Gusher area. He said he wasn't sure exactly where the truck was because he wasn't from the area.
Jacob tried to give the officer directions to the truck's location, but as of 10/19/24, Officer Randall has not been able to find the truck.
Jacob Minchey was booked into the Duchesne County Jail on the following charge:
One count of Theft (Operable Motor Vehicle).
Roosevelt, Utah arrest 10/15/24
