LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Police have arrested a man they say is responsible for stealing $56,000 in parts from a Georgetown, Ky. Toyota plant.
According to an arrest report, officers found 66-year-old Michael Kenny asleep in his 2002 Mazda in the parking lot of Kroger on Buechel Bypass, near Hikes Lane, in the early morning hours on Thursday. Police determined that he was wanted on a felony warrant.
As an officer approached the vehicle, Kenny woke up, started the vehicle and drove away, according to an arrest report.
Police say a pursuit began, with Kenny disregarding their lights and sirens and driving through three traffic lights, making "unsafe" turns into oncoming traffic.
The pursuit ended on Hurstbourne Parkway, near Watterson Trail, shortly after 3 a.m. Kenny was taken into custody and charged with fleeing or evading police, reckless driving and disregarding a traffic control device.
But police say that's not all he's charged with.
According to court documents, Kenny was wanted on a warrant for felony theft.
An arrest warrant indicates that Kenny was a temporary employee of a Toyota Motor Manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Ky. from March 19 to May 15. During that time period, he allegedly stole 160 cylinder engine heads for four- and six-cylinder engines. Police say the engine heads were worth $350 apiece, for a total theft of $56,000.
He allegedly committed the theft by removing them from the plant, placing them outside the perimeter fence and loading them into his pickup truck.
Police say he then sold the engine heads as scrap to two recycling companies. Investigators obtained photographs of some of the sales taking place, according to the arrest warrant. Police say they recovered 43 of the engine heads, but they were ruined.
"The defendant admitted committing the above acts during a call monitored by three detectives," police say.
Kenny is charged with theft by unlawful taking of an amount greater than $10,000 in connection with that case.
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Michael Kenny (Source: Louisville Metro Corrections)
