Wayne Man Arrested for Renting Car, Never Returning It

A Wayne man was arrested after police say he rented a car - and never returned it.

Wayne Police were conducting “random MCT inquiries on Erie Ave” on Jan. 13 when they saw a blue 2014 Jeep Compass, entered its registration, and received a stolen vehicle response, according to the police report.

Police pulled over the driver, Jeffery T. Rivers, 49, of Normandy Drive, at the Wayne Motor Inn and noticed another vehicle pulled “only feet” behind the police cruiser.

Police instructed Rivers to stay in his car, while ordering the two female occupants in the car behind to shut the engine off and place their hands on the dashboard, the police report stated. According to Rivers, the two female occupants in the second car were his mother and her friend.

Rivers told police the car was rented and that he was unaware the car was reported stolen, which matched what his mother also told police.

But according to the paperwork, Rivers rented the car from an Enterprise in Butler on Nov. 1, 2014 and was scheduled to return it Nov. 26, 2014. When Rivers failed to do so, the company sent a letter on Dec. 8 making Rivers aware that a loss claim was being opened. Butler police then entered the vehicle stolen on Jan. 5, 2015.

But that wouldn’t be the end of Rivers’ troubles.

While police were handing over items of clothing to Rivers’ mother, a plastic bag fell. Police determined the bag ”contained 8 glassine baggies bundles with a small rubber band, three of which contained the name Best Buy, commonly used to package heroin,” according to the police report.

Rivers was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He was also given a summons for driving while suspended.