A Jasonville man accused of stealing items from a store was arrested, then bonded out of jail. He was supposed to be in court today, Thursday, for an initial hearing but he was a no show. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

Jesse Dean Hill, 30, Jasonville, was first arrested on February 23 after Officer Andrew Duguay of the Jasonville Police Department was dispatched to Casey’s General Store in Jasonville about an individual stealing things from the store.

When Duguay arrived, an employee met him outside and told him the suspect had just left the store in a green Toyota Tacoma heading east on Main Street. The suspect, later identified as Jesse Dean Hill, was described as a male wearing ripped pajama pants.

Duguay had seen the Toyota pulling onto Main Street as he arrived at Casey’s and he was able to catch up to the vehicle as it turned south onto Meridian Street. A traffic stop was conducted and Duguay noticed that Hill, who was the driver, was wearing torn pajama pants and a black winter coat.

Hill said he was coming from Casey’s where he had bought some groceries. The officer asked him to step out of his vehicle and he asked him if he had anything on his person that he should not have. Hill said he didn’t think so.

When the officer asked again, Hill immediately responded, “Oh my god,” and reached into an inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a 12v dual car plug and a 3-foot micro cord and told Duguay he had forgotten to pay for these items.

Duguay asked how the items wound up inside his jacket and Hill said he put them there because he had his hands full in the store then forgot to pay for them.

The two then traveled back to Casey’s where the manager was advised that Hill was requesting to pay for the items. She was also asked if she wanted to press charges for theft. Duguay reported the manager said she did want to press charges – she supplied the officer with a copy of surveillance footage that allegedly showed Hill concealing the items in his coat.

Hill was transported and booked in to the Greene County Jail. He was served with a no trespassing order requiring he not go to Casey’s again.

Hill’s bond was set at $1,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He posted $100 cash, was informed of the time and date he should be in court and was released.

Today, Thursday, February 28, Hill was supposed to be in Greene Superior Court for an initial hearing but he didn’t show up. The hearing was vacated and a warrant was issued for his arrest.