A 19-year-old man was arrested in Cornelius after police linked him to the theft of a car because of a distinct tattoo on his face.

A Cornelius police officer spotted Andreas Boinay while on an unrelated call as the teen was walking out of a Plaid Pantry on North 10th Avenue on Sunday, according to a probable cause affidavit. The officer noted the tattoo above his right eye, asked the teen if he was Boinay and he ran soon after saying "no," the affidavit said.

Boinay was accused of stealing a woman's car keys, her Chevy Impala and her iPhone, the affidavit said. The items were reported taken on Friday and the car was found by police abandoned in a church parking lot on 10th Avenue on Saturday, the affidavit said.

The female owner identified Boinay as the thief, said she knew him and noted that he had a tattoo above his right eye, the affidavit said. The tattoo says, "blessed."

Officers chased after Boinay, found him at a car wash across the street from the Plaid Pantry and arrested him. He admitted to being Boinay. Officers found that he still had the key to the Impala and the missing iPhone, the affidavit said.

Boinay was booked into the Washington County Jail on charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, theft and escape.

According to the affidavit, Boinay told police to tell the woman that he was sorry.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.