A Canton man is accused of stealing a Canton Police Department Humvee before dawn and driving it until it became disabled downtown.
Police say 35-year-old Jacob Tyler Forrest entered the Humvee from the shared police and town hall lot along Asheville Highway around 5 a.m. on Sept. 21, started it, and headed toward town. Along the way, the vehicle ran off the right side of the road and struck a parked wrecker, causing heavy front-end and suspension damage. The Humvee later came to a stop near the former ABC store, where a citizen spotted Forrest and called 911. Officers detained him a short time later.
According to an arrest affidavit, Forrest showed signs of impairment, failed field sobriety tests, and told an officer he had taken 28 one-milligram Xanax pills.
Forrest is charged with three felonies—larceny, possession of stolen goods, and breaking and entering a law-enforcement vehicle—and several misdemeanors, including DWI, resisting a public officer, injury to personal property, and hit-and-run with property damage. The Highway Patrol also issued citations for hit-and-run, reckless driving, driving while license revoked, lane control, and no seat belt.
Police say the surplus Humvee is used for emergency responses; repair costs are still being assessed. Forrest, who was already on pre-trial release for a June 2024 DWI case, was released on a $5,000 secured bond.
