WINONA, Minn.— Right in front of police officers in a squad car, near the A&W root beer shop on Frontenac Avenue, was a 2005 Lincoln Town Car that had been reported stolen. Just as the owner had said, the car had a space-saver spare tire on one wheel. There was ni mistaking the car. The owner had told police that a friend had taken the car some time ago to fix the starter – and never came back. But there in the shadow of the towering A&W billboard, the man in the car had a different account., He said that he had paid $300 for car – not solen it — and that he was headed to Miller Iron and Scrap to dispose of it. Who to believe? The officers decided to take some time and re-interview the principals: No ticket for now. Nor a citation. Nor an arrest.
How it looked new. 2005 Town Car. Seventeen years ago it sold new for $7,000 to $9,000.