NEWS RELEASE
August 28, 2023
Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman states that the 9-1-1 Communication Center received a call on Saturday, August 26th from Mike’s Auto Sales, located at 8001 Ohio River Road in Wheelersburg, Ohio. The caller stated that someone had broken into the business and stolen several items, to include cash, titles, keys and a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.
Sheriff Thoroughman stated that a deputy responded and gathered evidence and information for a report. Deputies and detectives, working jointly, were able to identify a suspect.
Sheriff Thoroughman stated on Sunday, August 27, 2023 the alleged suspect contacted the 9-1-1 Communication Center wanting to report his truck stolen from a job site located at 1087 Coriell Road Portsmouth, Ohio. A deputy responded and completed a stolen vehicle report. The suspect was detained and brought to the sheriff’s office for an interview. During the interview the suspect admitted that his truck had not been stolen. The suspect admitted that he had taken it, leaving it running, and parked it along the Ohio River on the Kentucky side. The suspect then admitted to breaking into Mike’s Auto Sales and stealing the truck.
During the investigation, deputies and detectives were able to recover over 300 stolen titles and an assortment of vehicle keys. One of the keys belonged to the truck which was reported stolen from Mike’s Auto Sales. The truck was located hidden in a wooded area at the suspects house, located at 2930 Smith Branch Road Greenup, Kentucky.
On Monday, August 28th, detectives learned of a burglary which had occurred on Saturday, August 26th on State Route 125 in Otway, Ohio, in which firearms were stolen. While reviewing the evidence, detectives were able to determine that the suspect was the same suspect from the theft at Mike’s Auto Sales. The suspect showed detectives the location of the stolen firearms, taking them to Pond Lick Road off State Route125. Detectives did recover the stolen firearms, buried at that location.
Arrested was Michael A Swords, age 42, of 2930 Smith Branch Road Greenup, Ky. Swords has been charged with Burglary, a felony of the 2nd degree, two counts of Tampering with Evidence, a felony of the 3rd degree, Theft of Firearms, a felony of the 3rd degree, Having Weapons Under Disability, a felony of the 3rd degree, Breaking & Entering, a felony of the 5th degree, Grand Theft Auto, a felony of the 4th degree, Felony Theft, a felony of the 5th degree, and Making a False Report, a felony of the 5th degree. Swords is currently being held in the Scioto County Jail on a $120.000.00 bond and will appear in Portsmouth Municipal Court on Tuesday August 29, 2023.
Sheriff Thoroughman stated that this is an ongoing investigation in which additional charges may be presented to the Scioto County Grand Jury on a later date. Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel @ 740-351-1091