Staff Report

Brad Lee Niles Jr.

LEESBURG — A Syracuse man was recently arrested after allegedly stealing items from inside vehicles.

Brad Lee Niles Jr., 34, 1010 N. Huntington St., Syracuse, is charged with two counts of theft, both level 6 felonies; and theft, a class A misdemeanor.

Niles’ co-defendant, Nathaniel Phillip Trott, 28, 40 EMS B6 Lane, Leesburg, is charged with two counts of theft and resisting law enforcement, all level 6 felonies; theft, a class A misdemeanor; and unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, a class B misdemeanor. Trott was arrested on May 27.

On May 27, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputy was parked at the Plain Township Fire Department when he saw a vehicle on Old SR 15 disregard a traffic control device and fail to stop. The vehicle then turned onto Armstrong Road and sped up, resulting in a police pursuit.

According to court documents, the vehicle’s driver did not stop and traveled more than 100 mph while passing two vehicles in a no-passing zone. Eventually, the vehicle traveled onto railroad tracks near Levi Lee Road and crashed shortly after. The vehicle’s driver, later identified as Trott, exited the vehicle and fled on foot.

Trott later attempted to flee by getting into a different vehicle at a property. The vehicle was driven around the property by Trott until he hit a tree at the residence.

While investigating the incident, officers became aware that the first vehicle Trott was in was stolen from Holle’s Salvage. An employee at the business said an outside camera alerted him to activity occurring around 2 a.m. May 27. In the surveillance footage, two men are shown exiting a dark-colored Jeep and going through multiple vehicles.

The employee learned the two men had stolen a toolbox, miscellaneous tools and a .22 caliber rifle. The total value of the stolen items was valued at less than $750.

The vehicle stolen from Holle’s Salvage belonged to a client who had dropped the vehicle off at the business on May 26.

A KCSO detective reviewed surveillance video and was able to identify the second suspect as Niles. At the time, Niles was released on bond for possession of a narcotic drug.

Niles has also previously been convicted of dealing methamphetamine and possession of chemical reagents with the intent to manufacture a controlled substance.

For this case, Niles was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Aug. 25, with a $6,000 surety and cash bond.