WEST UNION, IOWA — A report of a suspicious vehicle behind a local business led to the recovery of multiple stolen vehicles and several felony charges for a Northern Iowa man on Sunday.
The West Union Police Department was dispatched on April 12, 2026, after a concerned citizen reported a suspicious truck parked behind a business. Upon arrival, officers discovered a running pickup truck hitched to a camper. A male subject who approached the officer was detained at the scene.
During the subsequent investigation, authorities determined that the truck had been reported stolen out of Sumner, Iowa. The camper attached to the vehicle was also found to be stolen from a location in West Union.
As the probe continued, officers learned that the truck had originally been stolen while hauling a separate trailer containing 18 paddle boats. Following a search, police located the missing trailer and all 18 boats at a different location within West Union. All property has since been recovered.
The suspect, identified as Jared Miller (pictured at top), was arrested and transported to the Fayette County Jail. Miller has been charged with four counts of first-degree theft, which are Class C felonies. He remains in custody awaiting an initial appearance.
The West Union Police Department was assisted in the investigation and recovery by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, the Fayette County Communications Center, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Office.