Old Monroe Police Identify Three Suspects in Truck Theft, Confirm Two Arrests
Updated: 6 days ago
OLD MONROE, Mo. — Two defendants are in custody and a third remained at large as of a Sept. 25 police update following a break-in at the Old Monroe Public Works building and the theft of a city-owned truck that was returned approximately six and a half hours later.
A City of Old Monroe employee discovered the building had been broken into Sept. 8. The investigation uncovered forced entry into the Public Works shed with a pry tool and traced the white Ford F-250 through several communities before its return.
The case involves Le’Marion Larell Steward, 22, and Melvin Douglas Watkins III, 21, both listed as Hazelwood residents in the department’s release, and Niccolo Clemons, 21, of Florissant. Arrest warrants were issued for all three on second-degree burglary and first-degree tampering charges.
Le’Marion Larell Steward, 22, Hazelwood — In custody on a $10,000 cash-only bond. Case review schedu
CHARGES — EACH DEFENDANT
Second-degree burglary — Class D felony
First-degree tampering with a motor vehicle — Class D felony
The investigation followed more than the stolen truck. A gold Ford Escape appeared alongside the F-250 on city surveillance near Highway 79, south of Old Monroe. Approximately 10 minutes later, license plate readers captured both vehicles in St. Peters.
The vehicles were subsequently seen in Portage Des Sioux, where a witness photographed a person leaving the truck’s passenger seat and getting into the Escape’s driver seat.
An O’Fallon officer later encountered both vehicles parked along Highway 79. The F-250 drove away, and the officer lost sight of the Escape. Approximately 12 minutes later, the Escape was stopped while traveling south on Highway 79.
Watkins was driving, and Steward occupied the front passenger seat. The court filings describe clothing worn by Watkins that matched the person photographed in Portage Des Sioux. A back-seat passenger’s clothing and appearance also matched surveillance footage of the person who later returned the truck.
Later that day, license plate reader records captured a white Ford Focus traveling north on Highway 79 at Main Street. City surveillance subsequently showed the Focus following the F-250 south of Old Monroe.
Minutes later, cameras captured the truck being returned. A person left the F-250 and ran toward a white sedan parked on Main Street.
The truck’s return left a separate question from its recovery: who was responsible for entering the city building and taking it? The surveillance footage, plate reader records, witness photographs and traffic stop became evidence supporting the charges.
The case was presented to the Lincoln County Prosecutor’s Office Sept. 18. The Old Monroe Police Department’s Sept. 25 release confirmed Steward and Watkins had been taken into custody and that Clemons remained at large at the time.
Lincoln CountyWatch previously reported on Steward’s case. The department’s update provides the broader picture, identifying three defendants connected to the same Public Works break-in and truck theft.
Watkins also has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 15 at 2 p.m. The released information does not explain a motive for taking the truck or why it was returned.
The investigation remains ongoing, and further reports will be forwarded to the prosecutor’s office for review. Anyone with information can contact the Old Monroe Police Department at 636-661-5112, email police@cityofoldmonroe.gov, or contact Lincoln County Dispatch.
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