BLANCHESTER —A man who police say recently stole more than $15,000 worth of Ohio Lottery tickets from the Blanchester Eagles has been arrested in Florida.
On March 13 Mackenzie Murdoch was indicted by the Clinton County grand jury for grand theft, according to Blanchester Police Chief Scott Reinbolt. The indictment was based upon an investigation conducted by the Blanchester Police Department into the recent alleged theft of more than $15,000 in Ohio Lottery tickets from the Blanchester Eagles Club.
A nationwide warrant for Murdoch’s arrest was issued at Reinbolt’s request.
“Over the past several days we have received numerous tips from citizens regarding Murdoch’s whereabouts, both received directly at the police station and also through the Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Crimestoppers organization,” Reinbolt said. “We have run down each of those leads.
“One such lead was received at the police station on Saturday morning and indicated Murdoch was in the Clearwater, Florida area. An officer ran down the lead and learned that Murdoch was residing at 711 Wyatt Street, Largo, Florida. The Pinellas County, Florida Sheriff’s Office was asked to assist, and they located and arrested Murdoch at that residence early Saturday afternoon. It appears he had no cash on him at the time of his arrest.”
Murdoch is currently being held in the Pinellas County Jail awaiting a court hearing and eventual extradition to Ohio, Reinbolt said.
“Unfortunately, the Blanchester Police Department will incur the cost of picking him up and bringing him back to Ohio, but I believe this is money well spent,” said Reinbolt. “It is my belief that Mr. Murdoch committed his crime with the rather arrogant assumption that Blanchester’s small-town police force would never leave Clinton County, let alone the State of Ohio, to find him.
“The damage caused to the Blanchester Eagles is enormous, and I believe that justice requires that Murdoch return to Ohio to Reinbolt added that he wishes to thank the Columbia County and Pinellas County Sheriff’s Offices in Florida and the Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Crimestoppers for their assistance in this case.
“However, I am most grateful to the numerous individuals who called in tips on Murdoch’s whereabouts,” he said. “Since there was no reward offered for information in this case, I believe those who called were motivated by civic duty, and that is greatly appreciated.”
