Middletown man arrested for sleeping in two cars, in the same lot, minutes apart

A Middletown man was arrested twice on the same night after he was found sleeping in a different vehicle minutes after he was told to leave Mid-Western Auto Sales, 720 S. Verity Parkway.

Kenton Ricke, 55, was found sleeping at 11 p.m. Oct. 7 by Middletown police in a car, according to a police report. The car lot owner told police Ricke, who used to work there, was informed numerous times to leave the property. A hypodermic needle was found in Ricke’s pocket, and .58 grams of marijuana was found inside his wallet, the report read.

Ricke was charged with drug abuse/marijuana and drug abuse/instruments. He signed the summons, stated he understood the court date, and was trespassed off the property and told he would be arrested if he returned.

A few minutes later, the car lot owner contacted police and said he heard a car door shut in the lot and he suspected it was Ricke or another subject.

Police found Ricke asleep in a different vehicle on the opposite side of the car lot. He was placed in handcuffs and arrested for trespassing. He was transported to the Middletown City Jail.

He pleaded guilty to drug abuse/instruments and was sentenced to 90 days with 60 days suspended; guilty to trespassing with 30 days and 30 days suspended; and the marijuana charge was dropped, according to Middletown Municipal Court records.

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