HEBER CITY, Utah — An employee of a Heber City car dealership is now facing charges after he allegedly took a car after work hours and ended up crashing it, causing more than $30,000 in damages.
Jonathan Lee Croft, 38, is now facing several charges including burglary, theft, and driving under the influence.
According to court documents obtained by FOX 13 News,
Investigators were first alerted to the theft of the vehicle on Jan. 15 when the dealership's general manager claimed an employee, later identified as Croft, took a set of keys to a car after hours.
Croft was then allegedly involved in an accident in which the vehicle was severely damaged.
Evidence shows Croft entering the dealership after the work day ended and taking the vehicle before leaving the lot just moments before he returned and started speaking with someone else in the car.
Croft allegedly told the dealership's service manager about the damage done to the vehicle. When confronted by the service and general managers, Croft allegedly told them he had taken the vehicle concerning his employment.
Police spoke with a woman who was involved in the incident, and could be seen speaking with Croft when he returned the vehicle, and she told police that she wasn't aware the vehicle was stolen and thought it was common practice for employees to drive the vehicles. The woman also told police that she had driven the vehicle but wasn't the one driving during the crash that caused the damage.
On Saturday, police were called to the dealership again after Croft allegedly went to the business and was reportedly intoxicated, according to the general manager. Croft allegedly became upset when the general manager asked him if he was going to pay for the damages
Croft allegedly took off his jacket and wanted to fight the general manager and, according to witnesses, threatened the manager before leaving.
Later that day, officers located Croft in the parking lot of a mechanic shop. When officers approached the vehicle they said Croft was in the driver's seat slumped over and unconscious.
After waking Croft up, police said he tried to leave the scene and refused to leave his vehicle. Officers reported that Croft had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, and his face was flushed red.
Officers removed Croft from the vehicle and arrested him. During a search of his vehicle police said they found two open containers of vodka and a handgun with two loaded magazines. Croft has a previous criminal history and isn't allowed to have a firearm.
Croft was arrested and now faces charges of driving under the influence (2nd offense in 10 years), open containers in a vehicle, burglary, theft, property damages greater than $5,000, disorderly conduct after being asked to cease, carrying a dangerous weapon under the influence, retaliation against a witness, victim, or informant, interfering with a peace officer, and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person.
