Man's Search For "Baby Mama" Near Local Business Results In Multiple Felony Arrest

A Butler Co. man faces multiple felonies after an incident at Creekside Nursery in Chalybeate this morning.

Darren Doyle, story and photo:
A Butler County man is facing four different felony charges after a local business owner discovered him acting suspiciously at the business before opening hours.

Jeromy Doyle, owner of Creekside Garden and Nursery in Chalybeate said as he arrived at his business this morning around 7:40am, he saw a shirtless man pushing a moped from Doyle's farm which is behind his storefront. Mr. Doyle said the man claimed he was having trouble with his moped and asked for help. 

Doyle said he asked the man why he was there and why he was behind the storefront on a private farm.

"I knew something wasn't right," Doyle said. "He told me he just came from 'that road' and he pointed to my farm. That's when I told him he wasn't on a road, he was on private property."

Doyle said he later discovered a Kubota UTV had been moved and damaged and knew that no one in his business had driven it since yesterday.

Mr. Doyle said the man left but as Doyle was working to open the business he noticed the man at another residence, just north of the nursery. Fearing the man was up to no good, Doyle called police.

Sheriff's Deputies caught up with the man, but this time, the man was headed south. A traffic stop was made on Chase Groves, (29) of Rochester, who according to authorities, told the deputies he was looking for his "baby mama," a slang term for the mother of one or more of a man's children, especially one who is not his wife or current partner. Groves said he got lost in the search because MapQuest led him in the wrong direction, according to officials.

Deputies said they found a bag of suspected meth in Groves' possession and further investigation led to the discovery of more drug related items. He was arrested and charged with:

• Possession of methamphetamine
• Theft by unlawful taking over $500
• Possession of marijuana
• Drug paraphernalia 
• Criminal mischief, first degree

According to the Sheriff's office, Groves was also charged with Assault, 3rd degree after he allegedly started a physical altercation with one of the deputies in the courthouse holding cell. 

Mr. Doyle said that while several things had been moved and bothered at his business, nothing seemed to be missing; however, the Kubota UTV was disabled and the key is missing.

Groves was transported to the Hart County Jail. Assisting was the Edmonson County Jailer's office, to which the sheriff's office, who said they were shorthanded at the time, thanked for seeing that the subject was medically cleared for jail transport.