An Effingham man was taken into custody on Friday, Aug. 15, at approximately 10:43 p.m. after allegedly stealing a motor vehicle. Effingham police were notified at 10:33 p.m. on Friday that a vehicle had just been stolen while parked downtown in the 100th block of S. Banker St.
Effingham police officers, assisted by Effingham County Sheriff’s Office deputies, immediately responded to the area where the vehicle was last seen traveling. The suspect and vehicle were located minutes later in the area of S. Banker Street and Kagay Avenue, still traveling at a low speed, without headlamps. The vehicle was observed striking multiple unattended vehicles as well as a mailbox.
Officers identified the driver as Draven A. Shelton, 21, Effingham.
The vehicle, still operating without headlamps and driving on rims, ultimately came to a stop at the intersection of 4th Street and Clark Avenue where officers and deputies took Shelton into custody.
Shelton was booked into the Effingham County Jail by Effingham City Police for theft greater than $10,000 but not more than $100,000, which is a Class 2 Felony. In addition, Effingham County Sheriff’s Office issued citations for numerous traffic charges related to the three accidents.
Effingham County State’s Attorney Aaron Jones filed a petition to detain during Shelton’s initial court appearance Monday morning, which was held to determine eligibility for continued detention under the Pre-Trial Fairness Act. However, under the requirements of the SAFE-T Act, none of the offenses were found to be detainable. Shelton was released on pre-trial release conditions, which included electronic home confinement among other conditions.
Earlier in the morning on Friday, Shelton had been issued citations and given notices to appear on two separate occasions by Effingham City Police:
• Criminal Trespass to Real Property at Kirby IGA, 101 S. Merchant Street, at 9:45 a.m.
• Retail Theft and Criminal Trespass to Real Property at Save-A-Lot, 101 N. Keller Drive, at 9:52 a.m.
Chief Kurt Davis stated, “Recovering a stolen vehicle is more than just returning property – it’s about protecting the safety and peace of our community. Every theft impacts our residents, and our officers remain committed to swift action that holds offenders accountable while keeping our neighborhoods secure. Stolen vehicles are often tied to other crimes, as was the case in this incident, which is why stopping them is about more than just property – it’s about safety. Our department will continue to pursue justice to protect our residents and our streets.”