Police Arrest Two Price Men in Vehicle Theft Case

Price City Police Department Press Release

On Thursday at 5:30 p.m., Price City Police Officer Jared Hansen received a report of a stolen 2008 black Hummer from an auto repair shop in south Price. The vehicle had been stolen sometime since the previous evening.

The vehicle had been left with the repair shop since Jan. 9 when it became disabled and required significant repair work. The owner had been en route from a visit in Texas, back to his employment in Washington. The vehicle was going to have to be left, while the parts were procured, and then the actual repairs were completed. The local shop made sure the owner was taken care of and transported him to Provo where he could get transportation back to Washington.

The repairs were completed and paid for by the owner, and the vehicle was parked in the shop’s lot pending retrieval by the owner.

When shop personnel made the theft report, they noted they still had the owner’s keys to the vehicle.

Officer Hansen began his investigation and confirmed the owner had not picked up the vehicle. He was current on his monthly payments, so the vehicle was not repossessed, and he otherwise had given no one else permission to get the vehicle.

Officer Hansen was able to obtain security video from area businesses, confirm an accomplice was involved and observe the actual vehicle theft and getaway.

The following day, officer Cameron Sartori located the stolen Hummer at a north Price residence, which turned out to be the residence of the alleged suspect. Contact was made with Travis Martin Jordan, DOB 6-2-85, of Price (formerly from California). Jordan was allegedly in possession of two new keys and a new fob that worked with the Hummer.

Jordan was transported to the Price Police Department where he was mirandized and allegedly agreed to an interview with officer Hansen.

Jordan allegedly explained while at the repair shop for legitimate business of his own, he was approached by a shop employee claiming the Hummer could be sold because the owner had been deported and the “second owner” of the vehicle just wanted to sell it.

Several off-site visits were made to firm up arrangements, concluding with a final visit including the “second owner.” Money was exchanged and a handwritten bill of sale was allegedly given to Jordan. The bill of sale has been collected as evidence. Other things were allegedly discussed in this interview.

Officer Hansen was aware that the actual one and only owner had not given permission for the vehicle to be sold nor had the owner done so himself (the company he works for confirms he had worked every day for the last several weeks in Washington State).

Officer Hansen arrested and booked Jordan into the Carbon County Jail for second-degree felony theft of an automobile. The vehicle was recovered and returned to the rightful owner.

Based on the information officer Hansen obtained, he continued investigation into the shop employee who arranged for the sale of the Hummer. This person turned out to be Travis Jon Loveland, DOB 11-26-90, of Price, who actually reached out to the police department, allegedly wanting to talk about the investigation. Officer Hansen mirandized Loveland at the police department and Loveland agreed to talk with Hansen. Loveland allegedly initially denied having anything to do with arranging the “theft/sale” of the Hummer. Loveland would allegedly acknowledge arranging a different type of crime with Jordan that did not come about. Officer Hansen discussed some alleged inconsistencies with Loveland’s version of events, and Loveland declined to continue talking at that time.

Officer Hansen also arrested and booked Loveland into jail for second-degree felony theft of an automobile.

According to court records, Jordan has 28 previous incidents out of California, including convictions for grand theft, burglary and robbery, all felony 1 charges in CA. There are also other theft-related charges. Jordan also spent time in prison in CA beginning in 2008. Bail was set at $20,000.

According to court records, Loveland has six previous incidents, including drug, alcoho, and retail theft offenses. Bail was set at $10,000.