SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) – Four different counties, two different alleged thefts. And now, a South Bend mayoral candidate finds himself facing a felony and a lot of questions.
Court documents reveal the case against Will Smith started in Miami County on Jan. 27. That’s where authorities said surveillance video from RV Dynasty captured a black SUV pulling a camper off the lot.
That investigation went cold for weeks, until Smith’s high school friend saw reports on WNDU about Smith being accused of stealing back his repossessed black SUV.
The friend then called the Bourbon Police Department, concerned about a trailer in his driveway there. He said Smith told him he’d bought that trailer in Georgia and needed to park it for a couple weeks.
That same day, Starke County authorities made their own call to Miami County to say Smith’s SUV was now impounded in South Bend.
Police told NewsCenter 16 it had been repossessed, stolen from a lot in Knox and finally found at Smith’s South Bend home.
On Feb. 26, that SUV, also seen on the RV lot, was linked back to Smith.
Last week, Smith told NewsCenter 16 the allegations against him severely impacted his life and his mayoral campaign. He said he was “fearful” of the future.
As of Tuesday, Starke County authorities have not pressed charges against Smith.