Suspicious cop identifies stolen truck, driven by Mason City man

MASON CITY – A stolen white pickup truck with altered license plates was located and identified by a Mason City police officer, leading to the arrest of a man who lives in a local hotel.

Friday morning at about 9:00 AM, a watchful Mason City police officer spotted a known male subject at the south end Kum & Go convenience store, whom they say was “acting suspicious”. The officer continued to monitor the male suspect, later identified at 34-year-old Jonathan Marty Hjelle, who lives in the Ashley Inn hotel.

Hjelle got into the white white Ford F-150 pickup truck, which had Texas license plates linked to a white 2002 Ford F-150. Previously, Mason City police and the Cerro GOrdo Sheriff’s Office had been alerted to a stolen, white Ford F-150 from the eastern side of the county. The officer suspected that this was the stolen truck that Hjelle was inside of, and a VIN search verified that it was, indeed, the stolen vehicle.

Police say Hjelle had switched the plates with a similar-looking vehicle.

Hjelle was arrested at the scene and charged with felony D second degree possession of stolen property, driving while barred, possession of drug paraphernalia, and fifth degree possession of stolen property. He was taken to the county jail, booked and held on bail.

The investigation is on-going at this time and more charges are possible.