A man already in custody on unrelated charges was charged again Dec. 28 with the theft of a coin-operated machine from a car wash, an OPD press release said.
Police first responded to the theft Dec. 7 at DBA Car-isma Carwash, 4118 East 52nd St., the release detailed.
The release stated the suspect, 51-year-old Rory Deleon, pulled the coin-operated machine out from the ground with a chain attached to his vehicle, a white 1998 Chevrolet Silverado. After leaving the scene, the machine was later recovered in the area of Interstate 20 and Dixie Boulevard. The machine was valued at around $25,000 and contained around $400 inside.
Deleon was later pulled over in the 1300 block of Laredo due to defective tail lamps, the release stated, where it was discovered that he had pre-existing warrants for burglary of a building and theft of property, state jail felonies. He was further charged with possession of cocaine, a state jail felony, which OPD Spokesman Cpl. Steve LeSueur was found during the traffic stop, and driving while his license was invalid, a class B misdemeanor.
While detained, Deleon was positively identified as the suspect of the coin-operated machine theft by surveillance footage and was charged with theft, a state jail felony, the release said.
Jail records show Deleon was taken to the Ector County Detention Center on Dec. 19 on four bonds totaling $15,500.
