Judge Christopher Hantla has ordered a Salem man facing multiple new charges for vehicle theft and from a high-speed Christmas night chase to be held without bond pending further court action.
The decision to hold Edward Kinney without bond came in another vehicle theft, burglary and possession of methamphetamine case filed against him on Monday, December 19th. State’s Attorney Tim Hudspeth asked to revoke his pretrial release based on the new charges and pending investigation on multiple vehicle burglaries in Salem.
In response, Public Defender Craig Griffin said he couldn’t argue for Kinney’s release with a straight face unless it was total home confinement which the judge rejected.
The new charges filed against Kinney in court on Wednesday include unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle and theft of a 2011 Kia Sole from the Produce Plus parking lot in Salem on Christmas Eve. He’s charged in a separate case with the theft of a 2006 Ford Taurus in Centralia on Christmas Day.
In the probable cause statement, Hudspeth said after going to Centralia in the stolen Kia Sole, he took the Ford Taurus which he later hid before getting back into the Kia Sole. Hudspeth reported a high-speed chase began after Centralia Police spotted and tried to stop the stolen vehicle. He reported speeds topped more than 100 miles per hour through communities along Route 161 in Clinton County until stop sticks were deployed by Clinton County Sheriff’s Deputies in Germantown. Hudspeth says Kinney then left the road and crossed the railroad tracks before fleeing the vehicle on foot. He was taken into custody following a short chase.
Hudspeth said after the car was towed back to Salem, Salem Police located items from at least three vehicle burglaries including a backpack and three ID cards.
Hudspeth said Kinney also told Salem Police that he made a bad decision and stole the vehicle, drove to Centralia, and stole the second vehicle. Based on the information he provided, Centralia Police were able to recover the stolen Taurus. Hudspeth says a video from Arizona Joe’s in Centralia shows Kinney approaching the Taurus. Kinney also allegedly admitted to taking the pickup truck earlier in the month which led to the first charges against Kinney.
Kinney is now due back in Marion County Court on January 18th on all of the felony charges pending against him.
