A 42-year-old Mt. Vernon man wanted since November 20th for allegedly stealing a car from a fire scene in Centralia was located in a traffic stop and taken into custody.
Daniel Morton of Eat Oakton and formerly of Centralia was accused of taking the vehicle while the owner was watching a house fire. The car was found abandoned the next day in Walnut Hill.
Police say they were able to tie Morton to the case because a debit card with his name was found in the vehicle. A later search by State Police DCI turned up his entire wallet with several other credit cards with his name on them.
Morton was reportedly a passenger in an early Monday morning traffic stop at the Hucks Store on Calumet Street. He allegedly was found with what field-tested as methamphetamine in a pocket along with a cannabis grinder.
Morton was formally charged in Marion County Court on Monday with the methamphetamine charge. Bond was set at $7,500 and the public defender was appointed to represent him.
