Police have charged a Schuylkill County man after he allegedly left a stolen vehicle with a damaged ignition at a home, later claiming the car was left at his home by a man he met on Grindr.
Police say they responded to a home in East Brunswick Township on March 22 where the property owner said Daniel Barnes, 43, of Middleport, had been at the property attempting to retrieve a vehicle he brought there days earlier. By the time police arrived, Barnes had left the scene. The property owner told police they believed the vehicle was stolen.
At the scene, police came across a black Kia Sorento. Police say the vehicle’s ignition was heavily damaged. An inquiry revealed the vehicle was reported stolen out of New York City.
A tenant at the East Brunswick property identified Barnes to police as the person who brought the vehicle there a few days prior.
Police say they contacted Barnes, who agreed to go to the State Police-Frackville barracks for an interview. Barnes allegedly admitted to bringing the vehicle to the East Brunswick property because he did not know what to do with it.
Barnes told police the vehicle was left at his residence by a man from North Bergen, New Jersey, whom he met on Grindr. Barnes told police he went on multiple dates with the man, but only knew him as Sisco.
Barnes was arraigned on a felony charge of receiving stolen property before Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli and was held at Schuylkill County Prison on 10% of $15,000 bail. Bail was posted the following day and Barnes was released. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 28.
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