CIRCLEVILLE, OH — Circleville Police recovered a stolen vehicle and made an arrest early Tuesday following a report of a car theft outside the Berger Health and Wellness Center on North Court Street.
The incident unfolded around 2:30 a.m. on June 4, when officers were dispatched to 1280 N. Court St. after a woman reported her 2014 gray Jeep Cherokee missing. She told police that she arrived for work around 9:00 p.m. on June 3, took a break at 11:00 p.m. — when the car was still in the lot — and discovered it missing when her shift ended at 2:00 a.m.
Police reviewed surveillance footage from the facility, which captured a female suspect wearing black boots, white socks, jean shorts, and a gray shirt with curly black hair entering the vehicle around 11:10 p.m. She then drove off, heading south on North Court Street. However, police were unable to obtain a copy of the footage without a subpoena.
Later that morning, officers were dispatched to a residence on Pearl Street, where the stolen Jeep had been spotted after a social media post circulated with its description and license plate. Kimberly Rowland was found sitting on the porch and was taken into custody.
Rowland told officers she thought the Jeep belonged to her sister and admitted to driving it to the Pearl Street location. Officers confirmed the vehicle’s identity with dispatch, which had entered the Jeep into the LEADS system as stolen.
According to reports, the vehicle’s owner responded to the scene and confirmed no visible damage. The Jeep had been left unlocked with the keys, purse, and $25 inside. Police say Rowland matched the suspect seen in surveillance footage from Berger Wellness Center.
She has been charged with theft and transported to the Pickaway County Jail. Witness statements were collected, and additional video footage is being requested by subpoena to aid in the ongoing investigation.
All officers involved wore body cameras during the response.
