Laurel County man accused of stealing car from Corbin travel center

CORBIN, Ky. (FOX 56) — A Laurel County man was arrested in Corbin on Wednesday after he allegedly stole a car from a Pilot Travel Center at the West Cumberland Gap Parkway and drove it to a residence in Corbin.

According to court documents, deputies with the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) went to the Pilot in Corbin in response to reports of a man there armed with a gun.

When deputies got to the Pilot, an arrest report shows that a man came up and told them he had tried to pay for gas when his car, a Suzuki XL-7, was stolen.

Witnesses at the truck stop reportedly told law enforcement that the car thief had long, dark, curly hair and a red shirt with jeans.

Authorities said the manager of the Pilot showed law enforcement footage from security cameras that showed a man, later identified as Justin A. Francis, 21, of Lily, walking up to a U-Haul and pumping fuel into it before he allegedly walked over to the Suzuki, got in, and drove to the stoplight, where he made a right turn.

At 10 p.m. on Sept. 6, a uniform citation shows that officials with the Corbin Police Department (CPD) told the LCSO that the car had been seen at the 200 block of Lynn Camp School Road, with officers asking deputies for help investigating.

Officials with the sheriff’s office said deputies arrived with CPD officers, where the stolen car was seen in the driveway.

Police called out to anyone inside the residence on Lynn Camp School Road, and five people came outside, but none resembled the man seen in the security camera footage. After getting permission, authorities entered the home and allegedly found Francis hiding under a bed with a gun nearby, per court documents.

“Laurel County Sheriff John Root stated that he appreciated the spirit of cooperation between agencies in working together to solve crimes in our area,” deputies wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.

Francis was charged with receiving stolen property valued at more than $1,000 but less than $10,000. He was lodged in the Knox County detention Center on a $20,000 cash bond.

The car theft investigation remains ongoing.