Adair County: Winterset man arrested on theft warrant

Justin C. Bush, 39, of Winterset, was taken into custody 11:32 a.m. July 30, on an Adair County warrant for the charge of theft, fourth degree.

According to a Greenfield Police report, at approximately 12:30 p.m. June 8, a suspicious male and possible theft were reported by a customer at a Greenfield hardware store.

Officers were told a male, later identified as Bush, who was standing between the set of doors at the store, picked up a green box with “Forney” stamped on both sides of the box and exited the store at the same time as the reporting party. A clothing description was given, as well as a vehicle description including a license plate number. The license plate came back to a 2015 Hyundai Sonata, registered to Bush.

Bush reportedly walked to the Sonata and placed the box in the backseat before leaving southbound on Highway 25 in the vehicle.

A store cashier said Bush had not purchased or paid for anything, but did return a dehumidifier and requested a cash refund. The cashier was unable to issue the refund in cash but was able to refund the amount to a credit card. The credit card holder was listed as Bush.

Officers notified the Madison County Sheriff’s Office of the incident, as Bush is a resident of the county. Later in the day Bush’s vehicle was located in Winterset.

The Winterset Police Department spoke with Bush, who denied being in Greenfield.

Officers made contact with the store owner who reported Bush had taken a dehumidifier from the shelf, walked out the side door with the unpaid item and then walked back in the front door requesting a refund for it, which was issued.

Bush then placed a Forney Easy Welder between the two front doors. As he walked out, he picked up the welder and exited the store without paying for it.

The value of the dehumidifier was $385.19 and the value of the Forney Easy Welder is $339.

Bush was transported to the Adair County Jail where he was released from after posting $1,000 cash or surety bond.