SUV theft suspect apprehended in Indiana County, back to Greensburg for arraignment, police say

An Indiana County man wanted in Greensburg for stealing a woman’s vehicle as she pumped gas this week was arraigned Thursday on multiple criminal charges and ordered held in the the Westmoreland County Prison after failing to post $25,000 bond.

City police Chief Shawn Denning said Darryl L. Higgins, 38, of Indiana, was apprehended without further incident by state police in Indiana County and was taken by county sheriff’s deputies back to the Greensburg police station for questioning and arraignment.

“I don’t know the circumstances about his arrest yet, but I do know they also recovered the vehicle, too,” Denning said.

Police on Wednesday obtained an arrest warrant for Higgins on charges of robbery of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, theft, driving on a DUI suspended license and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

An informant identified Higgins after police posted a picture of him entering the Sunoco/7-Eleven station on Mt. Pleasant Street on its Facebook page, authorities said. The image was taken shortly before the 11:30 a.m. Tuesday theft of a 2016 Subaru Outback SUV.

Police also received information from security officers at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg where Higgins had been treated for an undisclosed medical ailment earlier Tuesday. Carnes reported that hospital security video showed Higgins walking without shoes out of the hospital just over an hour before the SUV was stolen.

Police disclosed in court documents that the informant told investigators Higgins was looking for transportation back to Indiana Borough, where he lives.

After pulling from the Sunoco on to Urania Street and eventually turning on to Laird Avenue, Higgins drove for a mile along the Five Star Trail, which Carnes said is prohibited for motor vehicles.

Police obtained video of the SUV eventually exiting the trail at Lynch Field, where he drove on to a walking path and eventually headed north on to Route 119 north toward Indiana.

Higgins, who has an 18-year criminal record ranging from DUI, thefts and drug convictions in Armstrong, Clearfield and Indiana counties, was paroled in October after serving a portion of a six- to 23-month sentence on drug related charges in Indiana County.

“The Greensburg Police appreciate the help from the public and other agencies in this investigation,” the post stated.