SALINE CO.— A Harrisburg man who just doesn’t seem to be the brightest crayon in the box was caught putting gasoline in a motorcycle he simply grabbed out of someone’s yard the night before, this according to authorities.
James E. Arndt, 20, of 113 North Sherman St., Harrisburg, has been charged with Unlawful Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and in a separate case Burglary and Theft.
According to information, both sets of crimes took place on March 17.
The day began with Eli Nelson, 35, of 610 South Land St., reporting to police that his 2014 Suzuki red and white motorcycle had been stolen the night before.
But was only the beginning of the story.
Kaci D. Hollerson also contacted authorities and said that she had spent the night with her boyfriend at 610 West Sloan St., and when she got up that morning a neighbor had brought her purse to her saying that he had found it in his trash can.
When Hollerson checked her purse the only thing she noticed missing was her debit card.
A quick check on her online accounts showed the card had been used at 2:53 a.m. that morning at Casey’s in Harrisburg for $10.08.
The case broke at approximately 5:08 p.m., when Nelson contacted authorities again and reported that he was at Huck’s, and had spotted a man putting gasoline in his stolen motorcycle.
When officers arrived at the Poplar Street Huck’s, they found Nelson and Jeremy Allen, who had taken it upon himself to detain Arndt, who had been busy putting gas in his new ride.
The officer quickly noted there was fresh black paint on the red and white motorcycle.
Arndt was taken into custody and agreed to speak with police.
Arndt said he had been walking around in the early morning hours and as he passed Hollerson’s car, parked at 610 West Sloan St., he said he spotted the purse and noticing that the doors were unlocked, took it.
He said he then went to Casey’s and bought batteries but complained there wasn’t enough money on the debit card and actually had to use some of his own funds to complete the purchase.
Arndt said that it was around 4 a.m. when he spotted Nelson’s motorcycle, put it in neutral and pushed it down the street until he was a safe distance away and then started it, sped off.
He said he rode the motorcycle home and got some sleep.
Once Arndt was rested from his early morning thievery he said he started painting the stolen motorcycle to keep anyone from recognizing it, but didn’t finish.
He said he rode the motorcycle to school, but parked it several blocks away.
After school Arndt said he rode the motorcycle around until it needed gasoline and that’s how he ended up at the Poplar Street Huck’s where he was spotted by Nelson.
Cash bond in the motorcycle case was set at $2,000 with cash bond being set in the debit card case at $1,500.
With Arndt claiming on his financial affidavit that he has been working three weeks as a cook earning $100 a month, he could be a guest in the county jail for some time to come.
Third felony charge this year
A Harrisburg man who has earned nearly a felony charge a month since 2016 began has been charged with his third this year alone.
Hershel L. English, 27, of 927 West Barnett St., Apt. 5F, has been charged with Retail Theft after authorities say on February 15, he 
walked out of the Galatia Dollar General Store with two Hanes t-shirts without bothering to pay for them.
English was convicted October 2, 2008 of Retail Theft and ultimately sentenced to 45 days in the county jail, probation for 18 months and ordered to pay $671.75 in fines and fees.
He was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) for a term of three years January 9, 2014 after he was found guilty to Theft.
In addition to the prison time, English was ordered to pay $5,372.75 in fines and fees, of which he still owes $5,247.45.
English also has two pending cases in Saline County, the first from July 12, 2015 in which he is charged with Theft and the second from February 27, in which he is charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (prescription medication).
Cash bond in his most recent case was set at $1,000.