Carson City deputies arrest second person involved in Honda Accord thefts

A second person has been arrested in connection to at least two Honda Accord thefts, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said. Jonathan Baumgardner, 31, was arrested Sunday in the 3000 block of Melanie Lane and faces five felony charges, including two counts of grand larceny of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, auto burglary and tampering. He’s being held on $75,000 bail.

According to the arrest report, officers on Saturday served a search warrant at a unit at Sheffield Manor Apartments, arresting Sarah Ellen Cavello, 32, on suspicion of receiving and transporting a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle and obstructing. She is being held on on $50,686 bail.

Cavello told officers that she saw Baumgardner dissemble a stolen Honda that was located in front of an apartment, prior to the service of the search warrant.

Carson City sheriff Ken Furlong said officers had been working on the case for a couple of weeks after a rash of vehicle thefts involving Honda Accords. He said deputies were able to connect the dots leading to the arrests.

“It was patrol initiated and the guys did a really good job,” said Furlong.

The black 1991 Honda Accord found Saturday was stripped and inoperable. That vehicle was reported stolen Oct. 9 from a Menlo Drive address. Cavello told officers that Baumgardner brought it to the home and was inside the vehicle removing parts. Several parts were located in the home during the search warrant, the arrest report states. Baumgardner had been staying at the apartment with the woman. Another witness said they saw Baumgardner driving the stolen vehicle around town for several days.

Baumgardner was a suspect in another vehicle theft that occurred at Walmart prior to the service of Saturday’s search warrant. He was identified on CCTV footage, stealing a red Honda Accord at around 10:30 a.m., the arrest report states.

In light of the information, officers began searching for Baumgardner. On Sunday, officers received information that he was possibly in the area of Pheasant Drive and Fairview. He was found in the 31000 block of Melanie Drive and taken into custody.

Deputies asked him about the theft of a red 1995 Honda and showed him several pictures from Walmart store surveillance and asked about his involvement. Baumgardner stated he had gone into Walmart, purchased a few items and exited the parking lot. He admitted that he found the red Honda in the parking lot and the door was unlocked. He admitted that he got inside the vehicle, started it with a key located inside and drove away, the arrest report states.

Officers asked him where he drove the vehicle to. He said he had it for a short time and left it at an apartment complex in the 700 block of Hot Springs Road. He said he abandoned the vehicle there, the arrest report states.

He was asked about his connection to the Sheffield Manor address. He stated he knew Cavello and claimed to be friends with her. He stated he stayed there sometimes and admitted to removing parts from the black 1991 Honda at that location.

He initially said the car belonged to Cavello and was a “parts” car and initially denied stealing it. He stated it was Cavello’s car and did not know where it came from. He was asked about the black Honda that was recovered from in front of her apartment. He initially denied involvement with any other Honda thefts. Officers told him that there was CCTV footage of the theft from the apartment complex. He then admitted he stole that vehicle as well. He denied stealing any other vehicles said he did not know of the location of other vehicles.

He admitted to the vehicle theft Oct. 9 from the Menlo Drive address and admitted to stealing a red Honda Saturday from Walmart, which was recovered at a Hot Springs Road address.

The case remains under investigation, said Furlong.