Three Connected To Pierceton Auto Theft, Assault In Allen County, One Charged Locally
KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — A Fort Wayne teen, who walked away with two others from Pierceton Woods, has had charges filed against him in connection with an auto theft from Pierceton. A warrant has been issued and bond is set at $5,250 surety and cash.
Bronson Filler, 18, 3550 Sandpoint Road and/or 2625 Dexter Drive, Fort Wayne, has been charged with auto theft, a level 6 felony. Filler is currently incarcerated in the Allen County Jail on a charge in that county of robbery resulting in bodily injury, a level 3 felony.
Court documents show May 16, Pierceton Police investigated a complaint of a stolen vehicle owned by John Darling. Darling had reported at 4:36 a.m. May 16, his 2003 Ford Ranger had been stolen overnight, after leaving the ignition key in the vehicle. Pierceton Police were notified May 17 by Fort Wayne police the missing vehicle was located in the Walmart parking lot on Lima Road, Fort Wayne.
During the same time police were investigating a report of three juveniles walking away from Pierceton Woods. Police had been notified at 9:38 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, the three males — Filler, Davante Alexander, 17, Fox Avenue, Fort Wayne; and Cody Scheeringa, 17, Pierceton, were missing. Pierceton Police were also notified the three had been apprehended in Harlan on another matter.
Pierceton Police went to Walmart and spoke with the store’s asset protection employee. Police were provided the surveillance footage of Darling’s vehicle arriving at the store and three male individuals exiting the vehicle and entering the store. Police were able to take photos of the three males to Pierceton Woods Academy where counselors were able to identify the three as those who had walked away from the facility.
No charges have been filed in Kosciusko County against Alexander and Scheeringa at this time. However, Scheeringa, who is shown with an address of the Allen County Jail, and Alexander, shown with an address of 2819 Fox Ave., Fort Wayne, have each been charged in Allen County adult court with robbery resulting in bodily injury, level 3 felonies.
Unrelated Case
Filler, Alexander and Scheeringa were officially charged as adults in Allen Superior Court 5 May 22, with one count of robbery resulting in bodily injury, following an assault of a woman in Harlan May 16.
Police were notified at 2 p.m. May 16 by a woman who reported she was bleeding from an attack and gave police a description of the three men involved. When a deputy arrived at the park he observed the three men she described walking south on Stopher Road, near Applegate Drive. When the three saw the police car, they ran into a nearby field but came out of hiding when police arrived with a K-9 unit and were arrested.
The victim told police she was on School Street, when the three men struck her multiple times and tried to steal her purse. After receiving medical treatment she was taken to where the three men were found and positively identified her assailants.
Filler told police he was supposed to distract the woman while the other two took her vehicle’s ignition keys out of the purse. He approached her and asked her for food and water and then became upset and hit her when she did not give him anything or offer help. The trio entered her vehicle and attempted to drive away, however because the ignition was a push start and they did not have the keys, the vehicle would not start.
Alexander and Scheeringa were detained at the Allen County Juvenile Center, while Filler was taken to the Allen County Jail.
Scheeringa had an initial hearing May 28 and a hearing June 5. A two-day jury trial is set for Sept. 4-5.
Alexander had an initial hearing May 25 and a hearing June 4. His two-day jury trial is set for Nov. 13-14.
Filler had his initial hearing May 24 and a hearing June 5. His two-day jury trial is also set for the same time as Alexander’s, Nov. 13-14.