A Bloomfield woman is accused of entering an apartment to take a car key then taking a man’s car without permission.

Jamie Jo Staten, 52, of Bloomfield, was booked in to the Greene County Jail around 8:30 a.m. yesterday, Tuesday, October 1, on a warrant that was issued for her arrest in mid-September following an investigation led by Deputy Marshal Wayman JR Blazier of the Bloomfield Police Department.

Officer Blazier was dispatched around 5:50 a.m. on Tuesday, September 3, to an apartment residence in Bloomfield where a man was reporting his silver 2004 Saturn Ion had been stolen.

The man said that due to health issues, his door had been left unlocked the night before and he suspected Staten had entered his apartment while he was asleep to take his car key, then took his vehicle.

The man told the officer about another individual who was also a potential suspect but that individual was eliminated as a suspect.

Other officers who assisted in the investigation included Lt. Marvin Holt of the Bloomfield Police Department, and Deputy Davis Aerne and Det. Shawn Cullison, both of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department.

Several people were interviewed and the vehicle was located in another area of town. It was returned to the owner.

When Staten was interviewed, she allegedly told a story that implicated the other suspect.

Officer Blazier reported that Lt. Holt obtained video surveillance from the manager of the apartment building which showed Staten entering the man’s apartment then leaving about eight minutes later with a set of car keys in hand. Video surveillance also showed Staten in an elevator with the key and showed her walking out of the building headed toward the vehicle.

When the vehicle was recovered, Officer Blazier obtained a DNA swab of the steering wheel and the shifter before the vehicle was released.

When Staten appeared in court earlier today, Wednesday, October 2, a public defender was appointed to represent her and she was formally charged with:

Burglary of a dwelling, a Level 4 felony,
Auto theft – theft of entire automobile, a Level 6 felony,
Operating a vehicle after being a habitual traffic offender, a Level 6 felony, and
Refusal to aid an officer, Class B misdemeanor.

Staten’s bond has been set at $23,500 surety with ten percent cash allowed.