A Juneau Police Department officer who took a report on a stolen vehicle Thursday spotted it later the same day — in a line of vehicles stopped while he was doing traffic control for a residential fire.
“The vehicle theft report came in at 1:48 p.m.,” said Lt. David Campbell, adding that the vehicle was described as a blue Dodge Caravan with a “very distinctive” red front bumper.
The officer who took the report later was providing traffic control at Switzer Village at about 5:45 p.m. because there was a residential fire, Campbell said.
The officer stopped a line of cars and saw a vehicle matching the description in the line, with plates matching the stolen vehicle. The female driver was contacted and identified as Karena Willard, 38, Campbell said.
Willard appeared intoxicated, failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for driving while intoxicated and driving without a valid license. She was taken to Lemon Creek Correctional Center and was booked and released on her own recognizance, Campbell said.
She has not been charged as of Friday in connection with the vehicle theft; the Dodge was returned to its owner.
Contact reporter Liz Kellar at 523-2246 or liz.kellar@juneauempire.com.
