Alva Review-Courier -

It took a little over two hours for law enforcement to locate a vehicle reported stolen in Alva. The reporting party was James (Jim) Scribner, the elected city marshal of Alva. Woods County Undersheriff Keith Dale took the report a few minutes before noon on Sunday, Jan. 16, and located the pickup at 2:22 p.m. parked in the bay of a car wash.

Court records show Dale talked with Scribner after being notified by Woods County Dispatch. Scribner said the green over tan 1995 Chevrolet 1500 pickup was last seen the previous day. The keys were hidden in the vehicle that he valued at approximately $2,500.

Undersheriff Dale located the vehicle at 2:22 p.m. in the west wash bay of Roger’s Radiator car wash, 403 Lane St. in Alva. The keys were in the vehicle, and there was a log chain attached to the hitch.

Dale spoke with a representative of the car wash and asked to view the surveillance video. He asked dispatch to contact Scribner to come to the location. Scribner arrived and found nothing missing from the pickup and no new damage.

Dale spoke with a neighbor near the car wash who related observing a white male carrying a neon green bag leaving the area about noon.

Roger Mantz, owner of Roger’s Radiator, met with Dale and Scribner to review the video from the car wash. Dale immediately noticed the date and time stamp on the video was incorrect. While reviewing the day’s video, Dale observed Scribner’s pickup driving into the wash bay at approximately mid-day with a white male, wearing a blue jean style jacket, a black full-face mask, a hood and sunglasses in the driver’s seat. He saw the man begin to gather things from the vehicle and place them into a neon green bag with black lettering.

The video showed the male looking in the direction of the surveillance camera where Dale could only see his nose and cheeks exposed from the mask. The man returned to the interior of the vehicle before exiting again. At this time, the mask had shifted, and Dale could see he had a light-color mustache. He observed the male walk to the driver’s side pickup bed before walking away.

Undersheriff Dale recognized the man’s physical description and mannerisms as matching that of Michael Dominick Foster whom he knew from numerous previous and current criminal investigations. Scribner said Foster used to work for him at the salvage yard and had stolen from him in the past. Dale also knew Foster did not have a valid driver’s license and was also recently charged and convicted in Woodward County for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Dale went to Foster’s recreational vehicle at the trailer park at 722 E. Oklahoma Blvd. in Alva where he saw Foster outside of the RV. As he approached, he observed a neon green bag with black lettering lying next to Foster’s RV.

Dale began speaking with Foster about the stolen vehicle. Foster initially denied knowledge of the incident, but after Dale told him he was on video parking the vehicle, Foster admitted to stealing the pickup and parking it at the car wash, according to the affidavit. Foster said he stole the vehicle about 9 a.m. and parked it at the car wash with the intent of returning to it and leaving town. He also gave Dale a trail camera which he said he took from inside the vehicle.

Alva Police Officer Kris Franta arrived to assist and stood with Foster. Scribner had been notified and arrived to identify and claim his stolen property. Dale states he heard Foster apologize to Scribner for stealing his vehicle.

Dale conducted a limited records check on Foster that reveals arrests and convictions for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, embezzlement of property, driving under suspension, possession of controlled substances, burglary and possession of stolen property.

On Jan. 18 in Woods County District Court, Michael Dominick Foster, 25, of Alva, was charged with larceny of an automobile or other motor vehicle, a felony. His bond was set at $10,000.

Foster was also charged with two misdemeanors: unlawfully wearing a mask or hood and driving with license suspended.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 8.