LPD: Stolen truck sighting leads to 3 being arrested on drug, theft charges

Authorities arrested three on felony theft and drug charges after officers saw a stolen car. 

Authorities arrested three on felony theft and drug charges after officers saw a stolen truck.

Thursday night, narcotics investigators saw a pickup truck that had been reported stolen in the area of 21st and K Streets.

Investigators watched the vehicle make several stops before coming to America’s Best Value Inn near 56th and Cornhusker Hwy.

During one the stops, the driver and front seat passenger – who investigators identified as 39-year-old Joey Applegarth and 27-year-old Nicole Bruton – switched seats, police said. Authorities watched Applegarth and Bruton get out of the truck and enter a room at the hotel.

Shortly after, Applegarth and another man – identified as 22-year-old Tyler Ball – came out of the room. When officers tried to arrest them, Ball allegedly took off in a different pickup truck.

Both were taken into custody, and investigators served a search warrant where they found drug paraphernalia, police said.

Applegarth, Bruton, and Ball were all arrested for theft by receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance.