LINN  — Sgt. Richard Jarvis was searching for a fugitive who had fled on foot in the area of Hwy. 50 East and CR 801 at about 2:30 am. on Aug. 20. While checking various structures, he observed a barn behind a residence.

After speaking with the property owner, Alec Strope, Jarvis was granted permission to search the barn for the fugitive.

“Upon entering the barn, I observed 15 signs that I believed to be stolen from Osage County and possibly MoDOT,” Jarvis wrote in reference to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).

Jarvis returned to Strope’s residence and asked him to go to the barn. At the barn, Jarvis advised Strope of his Miranda Rights, which he understood.

The deputy advised Strope that 11 of the signs were Osage County’s property, and four others possibly belonged to MoDOT. Strope told Jarvis that the signs had been there since he had purchased the property. However, while speaking with Strope later, he stated he had hung a few of the larger signs to keep wildlife from climbing posts and eating meat he had hanging above to dry.

Strope said he had purchased the property from his mother and had lived there previously with her.

Jarvis seized the signs, which Cpt. Travis Shaffer transported to the sheriff’s office.

Further investigation determined that 11 of the signs belonged to Osage County, but the others were not MODOTs. Deputies are working to identify the owners.

The following signs and their values belong to Osage County: 1 Mulvania Ln sign (valued at $45), 1 Ben Branch Lake Tri sign (valued at $55), 1 Lazy R Tri sign ($45), 1 Lori Ln sign ($45), 1 Rose Tri sign ($45), 1 Indian Creek Tri sign ($55), 1 Coyote Ridge Ln sign ($55), 1 Saddlehorn Ln sign and bracket ($70), 1 Osage County CR 304 sign ($45), and 2 Riegel Ln signs ($45 each) for a total value of $550.

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office has referred the case to Prosecuting Attorney Amanda Grellner.