Steven M. Munie, 35, of Linn, has been charged with three counts of stealing, three counts of tampering with a motor vehicle, and one charge of receiving stolen property, all stemming from a rash of car thefts. He is being held at the Osage County Jail without bond.
Linn Police Chief Michael Bickell said that Munie had been positively identified by a resident who reportedly saw Munie fleeing down the street with property stolen from his truck, parked in front of his home on Fourth Street.
According to the probable cause statement Bickell filed, his first interaction with Munie led to a deception in which Munie pretended to make a phone call while simply pushing random buttons.
Following the positive ID of the suspect, Bickell returned to Munie’s apartment on Lincoln Street and placed him under arrest. A subsequent consent search led to the discovery of a backpack in a trashcan outside Munie’s apartment, and another backpack in a neighbor’s trashcan down the street. The first matched a description provided by the owner, and the second contained several laptops. The value of all items recovered is $761.
Munie has a criminal history dating back to 2001 when he was convicted of burglary in St. Clair County. Later that year was again convicted of burglary in St. Clair County. He was sentenced to one year of probation in each case. In 2017, Munie was convicted of stealing in Osage County and sentenced to 30 days in the county jail.