A Grand Forks man appeared Monday in state district court on a felony charge of stealing a motorcycle.
According to the Grand Forks County Sheriff's Department, a deputy surveilling an area near the Grand Forks International Airport in the early morning Saturday spotted Chris Patrick Poling driving a black motorcycle similar to one stolen recently in the area.
It had no license plates, so Deputy Aaron Davidson stopped Poling just south of U.S. Highway 2 on the west side of the airport.
The bike's serial number matched that of the stolen vehicle and Poling, 24, was arrested on a charge of possessing stolen property. He also was cited for driving with a revoked license.
Missing ATVs
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Besides the motorcycle, three all-terrain vehicles had been stolen just a mile northwest of the airport in the past few weeks, according to the sheriff's department. After Poling's arrest, Davidson's investigation led to the recovery of the three ATVs as well as other stolen items, according to the sheriff's department.
Poling himself lives near where the items were stolen, according to what he told state District Judge Joel Medd.
Poling, who graduated from Senior High School in East Grand Forks and has lived in Alvarado, Minn., faces a C felony charge of theft, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a Class A misdemeanor charge of driving on a suspended license under a city warrant, a charge he's been cited for before more than once, the prosecutor said.
He works for a cleaning firm in Grand Forks, Poling told Medd in asking for a lower bail than the $2,500 cash-or-surety bond requested by the prosecutor.
He's served nearly two years in the military, never committed a violent crime and needs to make sure he keeps his job and new residence near where he was arrested, Poling said in promising to show up for all court appearances.
Medd set his bond at $1,000 cash or surety, citing the fact Poling had lived in the area since he was 10 and had family around.
Monday evening Poling remained in the Grand Forks County jail.
Reach Lee at (701) 780-1237; (800) 477-6572, ext. 237; or send email to slee@gfherald.com
