LINN — Linn Police Chief Sam Ford and Osage County Chief Deputy, Maj. Travis Shaffer, returned to Linn on Sunday afternoon with Tanner M. Cripe, of Wabash, Ind., who had been arrested there, and held for extradition.

“It was actually a nice trip,” said Linn Police Chief Sam Ford of the lengthy drive to Indiana that began on Saturday morning and ended when the suspect was booked into the Osage County Detention Center on Sunday evening. “Mr. Cripe was very congenial and the whole way. It was pleasant. He was not indignant or combative in any way.”

Ford offered to accompany someone from the sheriff’s office as a way to share the cost of overtime.

Cripe had been charged with two counts of theft ($750 or more), tampering with a motor vehicle, tampering with computer equipment, and second-degree burglary following an investigation into recent theft incidents that occurred at Linn R-2 and Classic Buildings in mid-October.

On October 17, 2025, Det. Dennis Sutton noted in his probable cause statement that school officials reported the theft occurred on Oct. 15 at about 4:15 a.m., when Cripe allegedly entered the district’s property and pulled up next to Linn R-2’s 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. Video showed him removing two wheels and tires from that car and placing them on his Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

Sutton reported that the defendant’s vehicle was set up to be used as a pilot car for wide-load transport. Replacement parts and labor for the school’s vehicle are estimated to cost $2,459.58, according to court documents.

During the course of the investigation, detectives developed leads that connected this theft to a separate incident at Classic Buildings.

Linn PD Sgt. Darrell Chrisenberry noted in his probable cause statement that Cripe was seen on security footage walking around the business at about midnight.

Cripe allegedly knowingly destroyed property, including exterior window screens, which were cut out to provide access to the office area.

Chrisenberry reported that fingerprints were collected. Cripe reportedly removed a security camera and computer from the office. He also tampered with a router and other network devices. A ball cap seen in security footage as worn by Cripe was recovered at the scene and preserved as evidence.

According to Chrisenberry’s report, Cripe located a fireproof box and the key in one of the offices and stole $2,689 in cash. He allegedly entered a second office and stole $1,000 from the owner’s backpack.

In addition to the cash and computer equipment, Chrisenberry noted that six additional cameras and drones were stolen from a separate office.

The total cost of property damage was $3,959.72, and stolen items were tallied at $8,213.71, for an overall total of $12,173.43.

Classic Buildings posted a photo of the suspect on social media in an effort to identify him. However, other potential identifiers were not immediately available, including Cripe’s license plate, which was partially covered.

Chief Ford said that on Oct. 17, his office received information that put the case on a straight path.

“A local employee came to the office and told us that two of Mr. Cripe’s family members in Indiana had reached out on social media to identify him,” said Ford. “Lt. Jacob Cottingham contacted those family members, who positively identified Mr. Cripe as being the subject in the photos. That gave us a starting point, because we were kind of at a standstill until he was identified.”

With identification, Chief Ford reached out to law enforcement in Wabash, Ind., who were very familiar with Cripe. It was learned that he had a criminal history in Indiana, including convictions for burglary (2007), felony theft (2012), and domestic assault (2025).

Through communication with the office in Indiana, Chief Ford was updated with progress. “They knew the guy, and the officer conducted surveillance on Mr. Cripe’s house. He called and asked me if there was a stripe on the suspect’s car. I confirmed there were two big, black stripes on the hood, and the officer told me they had found it.”

Ford added that Indiana police waited and watched.

“The next day, the officer called and told me they had put together an arrest team and that Mr. Cripe was in custody,” said Ford. “They got him pretty quickly, and he was arrested without incident.”

Chief Ford praised interagency cooperation as a key factor in this arrest. “The sheriff’s office and my department worked very hard to make this happen,” he said. “The police in Indiana were equally supportive. I always say, “Many hands, one mission,” because it really comes down to everyone working together, regardless of location. We’re all on the same team.”

When the officers took custody of Cripe, the first thing Ford did was advise the suspect of his Miranda rights. “I sat in the back seat with him the whole way back, and during a long drive like that, I wanted him to understand he didn’t have to talk, but I also needed to make sure if he did say something, it would be admissible,” said Ford. “During the ride, he owned what he did on three separate occasions. He said he just wanted to get this situation behind him, and admitted he’d made a lot of mistakes in his life, including addiction problems. He just opened up.”

Ford noted that Cripe’s admissions were made possible because he and Shaffer treated him well. “We were very professional, even to the point of being kind to him, because he hasn’t been convicted of anything,” said Ford. “He said something about us being nice to him. We were cordial and pleasant. We explained everything we did, and did everything we could to make him as comfortable as we could for a guy riding eight hours in handcuffs.”

When they arrived at the jail, Ford stayed with Cripe while Shaffer arranged for intake. “I told him he’d been easy to deal with, and said, I’d like to offer him something.”

Ford suggested Cripe write down exactly how he arrived at this point. “I offered him the opportunity to talk, and suggested he write an apology letter,” said Ford. “That’s what I call a voluntary statement. It gives a guy a chance to unload something he probably wants to unload anyway. And I said, ‘I gave you my word, it will be the very first thing that the prosecutor and the judge sees when they open your file, because it makes you very human.’”

As of press time, Ford said Cripe had not taken him up on his offer.

On Tuesday, Cripe pleaded not guilty in an arraignment before Judge Sonya Brandt, who maintained the $100,000 bond. He is due back in court for a bond review hearing at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25.