Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s vehicle stolen from his Upper Arlington home's garage
Eric Lagatta
A vehicle belonging to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose that was reportedly stolen last week from the couple's open garage at their home in Upper Arlington was quickly recovered by police in the Columbus suburb..
LaRose's wife, Lauren, called police at 4:18 a.m. on April 26 to report that "suspects" were in the couple's garage, which she believed was left open by mistake, according to a report prepared by the Upper Arlington Police Division. When officers arrived at the home of Suffolk Road, Lauren informed them that Frank LaRose’s personal vehicle, a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, was stolen.
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The vehicle — which had LaRose's campaign signs, keys and state ID badge inside — was eventually found parked around the corner from the home, the police report states. An American Express credit card was missing.
No arrests have been made and Upper Arlington Police have not identified any suspects.
A spokesman for LaRose confirmed the accuracy of the police report when reached Thursday by The Dispatch, but declined to comment further.
LaRose, a Republican, is the top election official in the state, having been reelected in November to a second four-year term as Ohio Secretary of State. Ohio Democrats have also said LaRose is positioning himself to potentially run for U.S. Senate in 2024, challenging Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who will be up for reelection that year.
Eric Lagatta is a reporter at The Columbus Dispatch covering public safety, with a focus on in-depth coverage of social justice issues and crime trends.
elagatta@dispatch.com