Alonzo Small

The News Journal

A Newark man was arrested after troopers say he attempted to sell a stolen pickup truck on Craigslist back to the truck's owner and later police.

William Ragin, 20, of Newark, was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property and criminal impersonation after intending to sell a stolen 2014 Ford F-150, according to a news release issued by Delaware State Police on Thursday.

Police say a Townsend man residing in the 500 block of Main St. initially contacted officers to report his pickup truck had been stolen from his driveway and later to tell police the truck was listed for sale on Craigslist, said Master Cpl. Jeffrey Hale, a state police spokesman.

The truck owner contacted Ragin, who placed the ad online and set up a meeting to buy the truck for $5,000, Hale said.

He later told police of the planned meet-up.

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Police intervened. Investigating troopers, pretending to be someone interested in purchasing the vehicle, placed a second call to Ragin, Hale said.

Ragin agreed to meet at the Delaware Welcome Center on I-95 near Newark, Hale said, with the intention of selling the vehicle to the “interested party” for $6,000, according to Hale.

Troopers then responded to the center as Ragin arrived in the stolen Ford F-150, and a vehicle stop was performed, Hale said.

Ragin was taken into custody without incident and transported to Troop 2, where police say he provided troopers with a fake name. He was then arrested and charged with receiving stolen property and criminal impersonation. He was arraigned and released on $1,000 secured bail.

The stolen Ford F-150 was returned to its owner.

Contact Alonzo Small at (302) 324-2856 or asmall@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @P_AlonzoSmall.