Joplin man arrested in connection to Sonic burglary, stolen vehicle

A man from Joplin now faces several charges after he was found driving a stolen vehicle after a reported robbery at a local Sonic restaurant.

Joplin Police say on Sunday, October 8th, 2023, at 02:51 a.m., they got a report of a suspicious vehicle near 8th and Highland Avenue. The caller reported the vehicle had been running for a long period of time with no lights on and was unsure if it was occupied.

A Joplin PD Officer responded and located the vehicle and found it was occupied by an adult male, later identified as 43-year-old Walter L. Schulz.

As the officer activated his emergency lights, Schulz allegedly exited the vehicle and began fleeing on foot. After a brief pursuit, Schulz was detained. Through further investigation it was determined the truck the suspect had fled from was stolen out of Miami, Oklahoma.

Additionally, inside the vehicle officers located a large quantity of U.S. Currency along with locked bank bags that had been cut open. Officers were able to determine the bank bags belonged to Sonic at 1030 E. 7th Street.

Officers responded to Sonic and determined the business had been burglarized and money had been stolen. Officers were able to confirm through surveillance video that the suspect that fled from officers was the suspect who had burglarized the business.

Schulz was arrested and charges were submitted to the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for Burglary in the 2nd Degree, Tampering with a Motor Vehicle in the 1st Degree, and Resisting Arrest.