Hartselle police catch Decatur car theft suspect

Hartselle Police arrested a Decatur man early this morning after he was caught driving a car that had been reported stolen in Decatur.

At 4:45 a.m. Thursday, Kristina Cook of Decatur reported that her 2008 Nissan Sentra had been stolen from the driveway of her residence. Two other vehicles parked in her driveway reportedly were broken into.

Decatur Police issued a bulletin for the missing vehicle as an officer was being dispatched to investigate the incident.

At about the same time, Hartselle Police officer Zeke Eubanks stopped a gray 2008 Sentra in Hartselle. While Eubanks was conducting the traffic stop, Hartselle Police Sgt. Kel Roberts heard the bulletin on his radio and notified Eubanks that the car he stopped may have been stolen.

Eubanks arrested the driver, Shawn David Brown, 18, of Cedar Lake Road in Decatur, pending further investigation.

Once the vehicle driven by Brown was confirmed as stolen, he was transported to the Decatur Police Department, where he was subsequently charged with one count of theft in the first degree and two counts of unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle.

Brown is currently on probation with the Decatur Municipal Court.

When he is transferred to the Morgan County Jail on his felony charges, the bond will be set at $10,000.

The vehicle was returned to its owner.