Area law enforcement officers believe they may have solved a car theft, a series of car break-ins throughout Sequoyah County, and a Missouri pharmacy burglary with the recent arrest of two suspects.

On Monday, Sequoyah County Deputy Travis Gabbert arrested Christopher Lee Johnston, 32, of Fort Smith, and Fort Smith Police arrested Melissa Jo Harris, 32, of Sallisaw.

Sequoyah County Sheriff Ron Lockhart said Harris and Johnston are suspected of breaking into 10 vehicles in Sequoyah County and eluding Vian Police. Harris and Johnston allegedly stole a vehicle from a Sallisaw residence on Jan. 28 and drove to Licking, Mo., where they are suspected of breaking into a pharmacy and taking several hydrocodone pills.

On Feb. 13 Vian Police Officer Randy Taylor attempted to pull over a vehicle for driving left of center. The occupants were identified as Johnston and Harris.

Lockhart said Johnston and Harris drove west on U.S. Highway 64 and turned down a county road. While attempting to drive at a high rate of speed around an s-curve, Johnston lost control of the vehicle, and became stuck in a ditch. Harris and Johnston jumped out and ran on foot. Lockhart said officers found large jugs of hydrocodone pills inside the vehicle.

According to the arrest affidavit, Gabbert received information on Monday that Johnston was at a Sequoyah County residence in the Sequoyah Little Farms area north of Sallisaw. Lockhart said deputies surrounded the home and found Johnston inside.

“I entered the residence and made my way down the hall and Johnston came out of the bathroom. I ordered him onto the floor and handcuffed him,” Gabbert reported.

Gabbert said he found a beer can made into a smoking device, and a bag of green leafy substance inside the bathroom that Johnston had came out of.

Johnston allegedly told officers it was his marijuana. Johnston was booked in the Sequoyah County Jail in Sallisaw on the felony warrant out of Arkansas and possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.

Lockhart said, “Investigators are trying to determine Harris’s involvement with Johnston in the 10 car break-ins and the car theft.”

He said Licking, Mo., authorities issued a warrant for Johnston’s arrest Tuesday. Johnston is being held in the county jail with no bond and has a hold from Sebastian County, Ark., and Texas County, Mo.