Raymond J. Halsey, 25, of 126 S. Main St., Milford, who also shows an address of 9485 N. SR 13, Syracuse, was arrested Wednesday and charged with theft. He was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail and is being held on $15,000 surety bond.

Court documents state at 8:01 p.m. Oct. 20, two individuals came to the North Webster Police Department to report a theft they had just witnessed at the North Webster Church of God. Keith Gunkel told police he saw an individual take a Halloween decoration – a yellow and blue trash can resembling a “Minion” – and run toward a vehicle. The vehicle was described as a dark Ford pick-up truck parked on West North Street.

Police were able to immediately locate the vehicle and made a traffic stop on SR 13. During the stop, David May was able to see inside the vehicle. The item described as being taken from the church was on the back seat floor area.

Upon being advised why he, Halsey, was stopped and questioned by May, Halsey continued to ask if he was “free to go?” No further information was given to police.

A female passenger in the vehicle was also questioned as to how the “Minion” ended up in the truck. She provided no information.

Halsey told police he just wanted to go home and the officer could take the trash can and return it to where ever it belonged. When Halsey was released, his truck would not start. When asked what the problem was, Halsey only asked, “Am I free to go?”

Gunkel and another individual identified the “Minion” trash can, found in the truck, as that item that was seen taken or belonging to the North Webster Church of God. Harold Waldrop, maintenance man and church keyholder, was contacted and described the decoration to police.

The decoration was returned to Waldrop.