Police in Council Bluffs say a Nebraska man was arrested this (Friday) morning, in connection with the theft of a car whose owner left the engine running to warm-up the vehicle. 36-year old Brian James Johnson, of Omaha, was apprehended following a short, two-block foot pursuit that began as Officers began to question him about the incident. Johnson was arrested for Theft in the 2nd Degree, Possession with the Intent to Deliver/Methamphetamine, and Eluding. The drug charge was added after Officers found a quantity of meth in Johnson’s possession.

The incident leading up to his arrest began when authorities were notified at around 9:10-a.m., that at Buick LeSabre reported stolen earlier in the morning had been located by the owner, at the Days Inn parking lot at 3619 9th Avenue. GPS tracking allowed the victim to find her vehicle at the hotel. She met with law enforcement at scene and identified the vehicle as being hers.

The Council Bluffs Police Department thanks the citizen(s) who assisted in locating and apprehending the suspect. The incident they said, “Further highlights the dangers of leaving the keys in the ignition when warming up your vehicle on cold mornings.”