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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Accused Belleview car thief claims he gave vehicle to drug dealer

Ian Campbell Roxburgh

A 33-year-old Belleview man caught on camera stealing a vehicle from outside a convenience store told police he took it across the street and delivered it to a marijuana dealer.

Ian Campbell Roxburgh, who lives at the Motel 728, was charged with grand theft auto. He was arrested Thursday after being found hiding in the shower of a room at the motel, located at 5035 SE Abshier Blvd. He’s accused of taking a 2017 Ford Fusion, valued at $30,000, while it was parked at the Circle K at 5198 SE Abshier Blvd.

A Belleview Police officer conducting the investigation showed the suspect’s photo to a motel employee, who identified him as Roxburgh and said he was staying there. The officer went to Roxburgh’s room and was told by his girlfriend that he was at work and wasn’t in the room, according to the police report.

The officer asked to search the room because the owner of the restaurant next to the motel said that Roxburgh’s girlfriend had just purchased two breakfast muffins and nobody was seen leaving the room. The motel owner opened the door and Roxburgh was found hiding in the shower, the report said.

Roxburgh told the officer he didn’t know anything about a stolen car. He continued to deny it, even after being shown photos of himself stealing it. After being told he was being charged with grand theft auto, Roxburgh admitted he did take the car, but only took it across the street to a guy named Josh, who had asked him to pick up and drive the car to him. He said he bought a dime bag of weed from Josh, and then Josh and his girlfriend left in the stolen vehicle, according to the report.

Roxburgh was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released later Thursday on $5,000 bond. A court date was not set.