Palmer man charged with car theft

PALMER -- A Palmer man appeared in court Friday on charges of first-degree vehicle theft after he allegedly stole a Ford Tempo July 31 in Kenai.

Jack D. Wade, 54, was also charged with second-degree theft and driving without a valid license.

On July 31, Kenai resident Erik Hale reported to Kenai police that his 1984 blue Ford Tempo was stolen while he was in the IGA Country Foods grocery store. He had left his keys in the car, and when he walked out of the store he watched someone drive away in it.

Inside the car was about $300 worth of prescription medication, a $120 skate board and $100 in tools.

On Aug. 1, Palmer police spotted the car in the Palmer Carr's Quality Center parking lot. Officer Lee Reeves ran a check and discovered the car was reported stolen from Kenai.

Shortly after that, Wade got back into the car and was driving on the Glenn Highway when Officer Reeves pulled him over, according to charging documents. Wade reportedly told the officer that his sister had given him the car in Kenai.

Wade was being held at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility in lieu of $2,500 bail. He is scheduled for a Sept. 12 status hearing.