Jan 15, 2020

Hays PD: Plainville man with lengthy criminal history used stolen credit cards

Posted Jan 15, 2020 2:06 PM
Emerick / Ellis County photo
Emerick / Ellis County photo

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

A man with a lengthy criminal history was arrested in Hays after a misplaced backpack led Hays Police to the suspect.

Michael Earl Emerick, 23, Plainville, is a suspect in at least two instances of using a stolen financial card and was arrested at 3:29 p.m. Dec. 27.

On Dec. 23,  financial cards were reported stolen from a vehicle at a local store. Other cards were reported stolen after a vehicle was entered overnight on Dec. 24 from the 100 block of West Fourth, according to Hays Deputy Chief of Police Brian Dawson.

Cards from both victims were found on Emerick at the time of his arrest, he said.

Emerick was located after he was given a ride from Plainville by an unnamed individual.

Unbeknownst to the driver, Emerick allegedly paid for gas with one of the stolen cards and later left his backpack at the driver's house, which led to the HPD to search for Emerick, according to Dawson.

He was spotted on the 400 block East Eighth but left the area as police were searching for him.

He was later located in the 200 block of East 21st.

He was arrested on suspicion of drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, burglary and theft.

The investigation is ongoing.

Emerick has previous convictions in Saline County for drug possession, theft, criminal use of a financial card, obstruction of a legal process and aggravated failure to appear, according to Community Corrections records.

Emerick is currently in custody in the Ellis County jail.

All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.