BACKGROUND: Police are asking for the public's help with identifying a man who stole a car from the Walmart parking lot on Challenger Ave. Images of the suspect were captured by the store's surveillance camera and detectives hope someone can identify the man so that the victim's car, a 2011 black Kia Forte, can be returned. The car had less than 7,000 miles on it. Here is a narrative of what occurred: On Monday, October 3, 2011, a customer pulled into the Walmart parking lot shortly before 11:00 a.m. When he got out of his car to enter the store he didn't realize he'd dropped his keys in the parking lot. Another man (the unidentified suspect) saw what happened, picked up the victim's keys, and proceeded into the store. The suspect walked around inside the Walmart for a few minutes before exiting the store, getting into the victim's car, and driving away. The suspect was gone for about a half-hour before returning to the Walmart parking lot. The suspect appears to have walked back to the store. The suspect then drove away in his own car. The suspect appears to be an older white male with a grayish beard and glasses. He was using what appeared to be a cane while walking. In the video, the suspect was wearing camouflage clothing and a hat. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective K. Saul at 540-777-8628 or 540-562-3265.
UPDATED INFORMATION as of 11/1/2011: The Roanoke County Police Department would like to thank the public for its help in solving this case. After the information was released to the media, the Police Department received multiple phone calls from people who identified the subject in the photos as 60-year-old Jerry Spradlin. Spradlin was arrested by U.S. Marshals and is in jail charged with Grand Larceny. Spradlin is from the Roanoke area but does not have a permanent address. The victim’s car was located and returned to him.