A warrant was issued a week ago for the arrest of a Dugger man accused of stealing cash, pills and tools from a home in Linton where the resident had hired him to do some odd jobs. As of early Friday, he was not yet in custody.

Ryan Tyler Reynolds, 34, is wanted on a preliminary charge of theft where the defendant has a prior conviction for either theft or conversion, a Level 6 felony. The warrant for his arrest was issued last Friday, July 6.

An incident that occurred on May 2 then was reported to the Linton Police Department on May 8, has been under investigation, first by LPD Officer Jace Herndon, then by LPD Detective Paul Clark.

Both the homeowner and Reynolds were interviewed twice, first by Officer Herndon, second by Det. Clark.

The homeowner said she had been paying Reynolds to do odd jobs for her at her home but she had discovered items were missing after he had been there.

She said on May 2, Reynolds was there to do some mowing and to repair a leak at her kitchen sink. She said she spoke to Reynolds, then left after she gave him $30 cash to buy parts. She said they discussed that the money was for the parts and he was to leave the change and receipts at her house and she would pay him for the work after she returned home.    

She also left $20 cash in the house for her children to have when they returned home from school, but the children called her and said they could not find the $20.

She told the officers that when she returned home, the $20 was missing, the $30 was not there, she found no receipts or change from the money left for the sink repair, and the sink was still leaking.

Then she realized other items were missing, including some Ritalin pills in an old medication bottle, a Craftsman tool set, two hydraulic floor jacks and a 30-amp power cord for their motor home.

When Reynolds was interviewed, he said he completed the tasks he was asked to do and thought the $30 was to buy parts and that the change was his to keep as payment for the work. He denied taking any other property from the residence.