On or about November 24, 2025, Crystal Police were on patrol when an officer observed a lock to the secured lot at Car Hop was open and it looked like a chain lock had been cut. Police went into the lot and observed a white Ford Edge had all four wheels missing and sitting on jacks and stumps. Next to the Ford appeared to be recently broken glass. Police learned that Car Hop had video that showed a person breaking into the lot and stealing the tires off of the Ford Edge. Police reviewed the video and it showed a GMC Sierra enter the lot and then a white male is observed walking around the gated area.
Eventually, the video footage shows the truck backing up where the gated lock was and backing into the area where the Ford Edge was located. Police were able to continue their investigation and identity JEROME WILLIAM DARKOW [DOB REDACTED] as the suspect casing Car Hop prior to the tires being stolen. Police issued a probable cause pick up for Darkow. Darkow was later found on 12/22/25 in his truck where he was arrested. During that arrest, Darkow assaulted law enforcement and was charged for that in a separate felony file.
Darkow was wearing the same clothes as the surveillance video. Darkow had a vehicle and tire iron in his truck when he was arrested. During a further search of the vehicle, police located additional tools that would allow a person with nefarious intent to cut locks and steal tires. Police obtained a phone from Darkow and obtained a search warrant for it and in conversations found on the phone, there are messages of Darkow talking about obtaining tires. Police continued their investigation and seized a car as part of their investigation that contained the tires that were stolen.
