A Jefferson Police Officer located a stolen vehicle while on routine patrol Wednesday afternoon. The Jefferson PD reports the officer was running a computerized search on a registration plate at approximately 4:24 p.m. outside the Sparky’s One Stop on East Highway 30 when he learned the plates did not belong with the vehicle. The officer entered the business to make contact with the driver. A woman attempted to run from the establishment, but stopped after a short foot chase. The officer then ran the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), learning it had been reported stolen to the Des Moines Police Department. A glass smoking device was also found on the ground outside of the business, and when questioned, 28-year-old Maria Kaye Blanch Sorter of Des Moines, admitted it belonged to her and she had thrown it when she spotted the officer approaching. Sorter was arrested and charged with first-degree theft, a class C felony, second-offense possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, a serious misdemeanor, driving while barred an aggravated misdemeanor and possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor.
