A 29-year-old Marion County man and a 27-year-old woman are in custody following the theft of a high-value camper. Isaac Benjamin Clay Elliott and Sydney Lynn Martin were arrested after law enforcement tracked a stolen vehicle to a location on U.S. Highway 62 West.
The camper, valued at $50,000, belongs to a Hawaii resident who uses the vehicle as a seasonal residence in Marion County. According to investigators, the camper was fully equipped and contained fishing gear and a shotgun. When deputies discovered Elliott and Martin attempting to move the vehicle, the pair claimed they were "detailing" the camper. However, they admitted to emptying the vehicle and burning all of its contents.
The arrest took place in St. Joe, where an Arkansas State Police investigator pursued the suspects. Authorities report that Martin attempted to mislead the officer by pointing him in the wrong direction while Elliott fled on foot. Both suspects were eventually apprehended.
Elliott, a convicted felon, faces multiple felony charges, including theft by receiving, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of a firearm. Additionally, he faces felony charges for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia discovered during a home probation visit. Due to his extensive criminal history, which includes previous arrests for burglary and fleeing from police, the state has filed to revoke his probation and is seeking a sentence enhancement as a habitual offender.
Martin is facing a felony charge of hindering apprehension or prosecution and a misdemeanor charge of criminal trespassing.
Elliott's total bond has been set at $20,000, while Martin's bond is $5,000.
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