Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 13, 1995 TAG: 9507130051
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KATHLEEN WILSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
When you turn the key it still starts. And when you push on the brake, it still stops.
The ugly duckling, oddball truck with the white cab, mustard-yellow bottom and the brown stripe that was stolen from an ice cream vendor at the Salem Fair has been found.
Salem police found the truck Thursday after receiving calls from residents who had seen a photograph of it in The Roanoke Times on Wednesday.
Detective Sgt. D.R. Divers said six or seven residents phoned the Police Department Wednesday morning.
Two callers had spotted Jim Lebrato's truck in the parking lot of a business on 24th Street in Roanoke. After several days, the owner of the business - who asked not to be identified - had the truck towed to a lot on Salem Avenue.
That's where Divers found Lebrato's truck. It had been there approximately 24 hours.
``The keys weren't with the vehicle, but it is in running condition,'' Divers said.
Lebrato said he had sent an employee, Jerry O'Neil, 30, on an errand in the truck with $270 early Friday afternoon. O'Neil never returned.
After notifying the police, Lebrato called a friend in California, who e-mailed 602 America OnLine members whose profiles included the word ``Roanoke'' asking for help in locating the truck.
After the fair closed Sunday, Lebrato was stranded in the parking lot of the Salem Civic Center until Wednesday morning, when a friend arrived from New Jersey to help him move his trailer.
He didn't learn until he was on the road that the truck had been recovered.
Lebrato plans to fly down to pick up his oddball truck.
The missing employee should not assume all is forgiven just because the truck was recovered.
Salem police issued a warrant against O'Neil on a charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle.
by CNB