Theft and Battery Alleged in Two Days at Car Dealership

Normally, things are a little quieter at .

But in mid-May, the Urbandale car dealership reported two crimes, 24 hours apart.

On May 15, the car dealership sold two new vehicles to a Panora couple. Thomas D. Barber, 42, bought a white 2012 Titan Crew cab and wrote a check for $40,212.88. Dana D. Chapman, 39, bought a 2012 Nissan Xtera for $37,370.77. 

Both checks were written on the same joint account, but there was not enough money in the account to cover them, said Lt. Rob Johansen. He said the dealer tried unsuccessfully to reach the couple about making payment.

On May 22, they both were arrested on felony theft charges.

On May 16, Nathan M. Leichliter, 19, of West Des Moines and his girlfriend, Destinee K. Miller, 20, of Des Moines were at Hummel's Nissan, where Leichliter was trying to buy a car. The couple had Leichliter's 2-year-old daughter with them.

Leichliter, at some point, called the child's mother and asked that she come pick her up so they could finish the car transaction. The girl's mother, Genevieve V. Flores, 22, of West Des Moines arrived with her boyfriend, Nathanial R. Hoffman, 21, of Des Moines and an argument between the two couples escalated into a fight, said Lt. Rob Johansen.

Police arrived and took everyone's statement and referred the case to detectives, who later charged Hoffman with aggravated assault, and the other three with disorderly conduct.