A homeless couple looking for “shelter” found it in a car they allegedly stole from a Shelbyville convenience store around 3 a.m. Thursday, police said.
The victim said her cell phone and a loaded pistol were in the 2009 Nissan Altima at the Circle K on North Main Street.
A cell phone tracker app led police to the car approximately 20 minutes later. It was abandoned by Napoleon Dwight Scales, 26, and Rachel Gotham, 29, a few blocks away behind Joe Hudson Collision Center, Colloredo Boulevard, almost within sight of the store, police said.
The couple were found by police at the Delray Street-Elm Street intersection.
Scales told officers Gotham climbed through the sunroof to open the locked car at the store. He said they only wanted shelter for the night, didn’t plan to take anything and intended to leave the car somewhere later. All items inside were intact, the owner said.
The suspects abandoned the car after seeing the gun in the driver’s side door pocket, Scales said. He told police he wanted nothing to do with the gun.
Both were charged with theft of property of $2,500 and held on $10,000 bond each.
•Another homeless man was charged with leaving Casa Mexicana, Madison Street, without paying for his meal Friday night.
Wesley Worthington told police he planned to return Monday morning and pay for his food. Worthington was videoed by a restaurant employee as he ran away and was found by police in a wooded area on Railroad Avenue.
