A recent break-in at Mike’s Auto Sales on Ohio River Road sparked a swift response from the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office. According to Sheriff David Thoroughman, the 9-1-1 Communication Center received a call on Saturday, August 26th, reporting a burglary at the auto shop. The caller informed authorities that multiple items, including cash, titles, keys, and a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, were stolen.
Upon arrival, a responding deputy collected evidence and information to compile a report. Through a collaborative effort between deputies and detectives, a suspect was swiftly identified in connection with the case.
Sheriff Thoroughman reported that on Sunday, August 27, 2023, the alleged suspect, later identified as Michael A. Swords, initiated a new call to the 9-1-1 Communication Center. This time, Swords claimed his truck had been stolen from a job site in Portsmouth, Ohio. However, a subsequent investigation revealed a different story. During an interview at the sheriff’s office, Swords confessed that he had falsely reported his truck as stolen. In reality, he had taken the vehicle, left it running, and concealed it on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River.
Further revelations unfolded during the inquiry, as deputies and detectives uncovered over 300 stolen titles and various vehicle keys. One of these keys corresponded with the truck reported stolen from Mike’s Auto Sales. Remarkably, the stolen truck was discovered hidden in a wooded area adjacent to Swords’ residence in Greenup, Kentucky.
The investigation took a darker turn when detectives learned of a separate burglary on State Route 125 in Otway, Ohio, on the same day as the auto shop break-in. Firearms had been reported stolen in this case. Detectives quickly linked Swords to this crime as well, following a thorough review of the evidence. Swords then led detectives to the buried firearms, located off Pond Lick Road near State Route 125.
Michael A. Swords, 42, of Greenup, Kentucky, now faces a litany of charges related to these criminal activities. These include burglary, tampering with evidence, theft of firearms, having weapons under disability, breaking and entering, grand theft auto, felony theft, and making a false report. Currently held in the Scioto County Jail on a $120,000 bond, Swords is scheduled to appear in Portsmouth Municipal Court on Tuesday, August 29, 2023.
Sheriff Thoroughman emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, hinting that additional charges could be presented to the Scioto County Grand Jury in due course. Individuals with information pertinent to this case are urged to contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091.