CELINA — A Union City man arrested in Mercer County on Sunday, Jan. 21, has been linked to several alleged Shelby and Auglaize County break-ins.
According to a Celina Police Department news release, Jason Duane Amspaugh, 31, is being held in the Mercer County Jail on a $500,000 bond after an estimated $75,000 worth of stolen merchandise was found inside his Darke County residence.
Shelby County Sheriff Chief Deputy Jim Frye said the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has been “directly involved” in the investigation of Amspaugh as a “lead agency.” A press release from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said their office investigated three separate breaking and entering incidents between September to December 2017 at Arrowhead Golf Club, located at 2211 Dirksen Road. Evidence obtained during the investigation, the release said, indicated the same suspect was responsible for all three break-ins. Items stolen from the golf club include numerous golf clubs, golf bags and some accessories totaling about $15,000 in merchandise. All of the Shelby County stolen merchandise, Frye said, is believed to have been recovered.
On Sunday, the Celina Police Department responded to a Celina auto dealership on the report of a person under the hood of a truck. Amspaugh was arrested after he allegedly drove his vehicle at a law enforcement officer as police officers from the Celina Police Department and Mercer County Sheriff’s Office attempted to apprehend him. He faces charges of felonious assault on a peace officer, a first-degree felony, and fleeing, a felony of the third degree.
Several stolen items, including items from the dealership, was found during a search of Amspaugh’s vehicle. Detectives with the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office then obtained a search warrant through Darke County Common Pleas Court for Amspaugh’s property in Union City. An estimated over $75,000 worth of stolen merchandise was recovered during the execution of the search warrant, the release said.
The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Darke County Sheriff’s Office, Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office, Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and Darke County Prosecutor’s Office.
The case is being reviewed by the Mercer County Prosecutor Matthew K. Fox.
According to the press release from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, felony charges will be presented to a Shelby County Grand Jury.
