By Shari Phiel
Berthoud Recorder
Police in Sweet Grass, Mont., arrested 29-year-old Samantha Marie Ward on March 25 for driving a car reportedly stolen from Berthoud. The woman was picked up after police pulled her over for running a stop sign and upon checking the license plates, discovered the car had been reported stolen.
Ward has been moved from Sweet Grass, which sits on the U.S.-Canadian border, to Livingston, Mont., until she can be moved back to Colorado.
On March 20, Berthoud Police Officer Mike Ryel responded to a burglary call at K and K Painting at 245 Bunyan Ave. Upon arrival, police found several items had been moved, some food and beverages had been taken, a locked entry into another area had been open with a screwdriver and HP Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) had been taken.
Ward was questioned the previous day for making unauthorized purchases using a credit card belonging to Debra Kilde, co-owner of K and K.
Then on March 23, Berthoud Police received a call from John Hawley at 705 Bruce Dr., who reported his 2002 Chevy Blazer had been stolen from his driveway. Results from the investigation did not link Ward to the stolen vehicle until she was arrested in Montana in possession of the vehicle.
Ward is also wanted in connection to the robbery of the Western Convenience Store at 1331 W. Eisenhower Blvd., in Loveland. Ward was connected to the 4 a.m. robbery after her parole officer recognized her from surveillance video images released to the public.
She was sentenced to two years probation earlier this year after pleading guilty in 2008 to theft of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000.
Police continue to investigate her possible connection to other crimes committed in the area at the same time.