3 arrested after Paducah officer’s suspicion led to recovery of stolen vehicle

PADUCAH, Ky. (KBSI) – Three people face charges after an officer’s suspicion led to the recovery of a stolen vehicle in Paducah Friday morning.

Jonathan E. Sarolas, 35, of Burbank, Ill. faces charges of receiving stolen property, driving under the influence of a controlled substance,
driving with a suspended or revoked operator’s license, first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia, and on warrants charging him with being a fugitive from another state.

Hillery Sarolas, 39, of Urbana, Ill. was arrested on charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and public intoxication.

Donald E. Gibbs, 54, of Champaign, Ill. was arrested on charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and public intoxication.

Paducah Police Officer Jackson McCormick was patrolling in the area of a convenience store in the 4700 block of Alben Barkley Drive just before 3 a.m. Friday when he saw a Chevrolet passenger car, parked and running, with three people asleep inside.

A computer check showed the car had been reported stolen from Champaign County, Ill.

McCormick found the man in the driver’s seat, Jonathan Sarolas, was under the influence of drugs, according to the Paducah Police Department.

A search of the vehicle revealed numerous used needles in the front floorboard, and five needles believed to contain methamphetamine in a purse belonging to Hillery Sarolas. The purse was found in the back seat with Donald E. Gibbs, who police say admitted having used methamphetamine with Jonathan Sarolas earlier.

Police also found in the vehicle about $1,400 worth of merchandise, including hand tools, binoculars and other items, believed to be stolen.

Jonathan Sarolas was wanted in Illinois on charges of flight/escape (violation of a court order) and failure to appear on a weapons offense.

Both Sarolases and Gibbs were arrested and booked into McCracken County Regional Jail.