A Pottawattamie County man was arrested Monday morning in Fremont County, for allegedly stealing a semi. 49-year old John Andrew Pehanich, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Theft in the 1st Degree, and Driving Under Suspension, with additional charges pending.

John Pehanich

The incident leading up to his arrest began just before 9:30-a.m., when deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the area of Interstate 29 for a report of a semi, stolen out of Omaha, being driven south on the Interstate. Deputies observed the vehicle being driven eastbound on 155th Street from the Thurman exit.  They located the vehicle abandoned on Martha Street in Thurman and K9 “Roby” was deployed in the area.

Witnesses advised a male was seen walking from the area of the semi near the Thurman park.  Law enforcement along with a K9 Roby appended the suspect later identified as Pehanich, near a residence in that area. The Mills County K9 Unit, Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa Motor Vehicle Enforcement assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the call.