Columbus man arrested on auto theft, other charges

A Columbus man is facing multiple charges after allegedly forcing his way into a home. The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that at 5:22 p.m. Tuesday, deputies were called to the 6000 block of State Road 9 in reference to a battery. Enroute, Dispatch notified deputies that the suspect was possibly the same man who had stolen a vehicle by force in Columbus earlier in the day and that he was possibly armed.

On arrival, deputies saw the stolen vehicle in the driveway of the home. They also located a gun inside the vehicle. The homeowner reported that a man had forced his way into the home but had fled after an altercation occurred when the suspect attempted to steal another vehicle parked in the driveway.

A Columbus Police K9 unit and a Columbus Fire Department drone assisted in efforts to locate the suspect who was found hiding in a field. After refusing to respond to commands, the suspect was apprehended by police dog Max.

Wilmel Ramirez-Savinon, 22, was arrested on preliminary charges of:

Battery
Burglary – Resulting in Bodily Injury
Theft – Receiving Stolen Property
Unlawful Entry of a Vehicle
Resisting Law Enforcement

Ramirez-Savinon remains in the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $92,000 bond.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers credited the agencies who worked together. “We were able to apprehend this man because of multiple agencies working together. When we work together as a team, all of our agencies succeed. The success of our county is dependent on our working together to better serve residents,” said Sheriff Myers.