According to Wayne County Sheriff Tim Catron a report of an
vehicle abandoned vehicle on private property as now resulted in
the arrest of a Wayne County man on multiple charges including
burglary.
On Saturday, December 13, 2025, Wayne County 911 Dispatch Center
dispatched Deputy Valis Smedley to check on the vehicle located
in the Canada Creek Road area. Upon arrival Deputy Smedley
found the vehicle with the driver’s door open with numerous
personal items still inside and was unable locate the owner. A
search of the general wooden area by Deputy Smedley was
unsuccessful at that time. Short time later Deputy Smedley was
assisted by Deputy Jerry Coffey and numerous members with the
Wayne County Rescue Squad which continued the search. Again
this search was unsuccessful. After interviewing several
individuals about the owner of the vehicle the Deputies were
shown a text message where the owner had stated he had
robbed someone during the previous night at gunpoint.
The Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Kentucky
Highway 776 for a complaint of over $5,000.00 worth of tools had
being stolen from a local construction company owner. While
taken that report Deputy Smedley remembered noticing a tool
battery laying in the rear of the abandoned vehicle. This battery
was identified as being owned by the construction company by
engraved marks that he had placed on it. Other evidence was
taken at the that scene.
Deputies Smedley and Coffey returned to the Canada Creek area
after receiving a call of a male coming out of the woods. Deputies
were able to located the male which was identified as the owner
of the vehicle. While speaking to the male a trail camera was
found on him that was identified as being owned by a landowner
in the area. Deputies observed that muck type of boots being
worn by the male appeared to having the same type of tread
pattern as the evidence retrieved at the scene of the burglary.
Both the tread pattern and the size of the boots matched.
After processing paperwork and conducting an interview with the
male Deputy Smedley charged and arrested Ryan A. Jahnke of
Monticello, Ky. for criminal trespassing-3 rd degree, theft by
unlawful taking or disposition-all others, burglary-1 st degree and
public intoxication-controlled substance (excludes alcohol).
Jahnke was also arrested on 2 Wayne County District Court and 1
Pulaski County District Court Warrants of Arrest for failure to pay
or show cause on the underlying charges of criminal possession
of a forged instrument-3 rd degree, theft by unlawful taking or
disposition-shoplifting and forgery-3 rd degree.
Jahnke was lodged in the Wayne County Detention Center. The
investigation is continuing by Deputy Smedley with possible more
arrets pending.