Oklahoma Man Charged After Stolen Pickup Found in Florence Yard
Oneida County deputies say a suspicious vehicle complaint led them to a pickup reported stolen from the Buffalo area.
A stolen pickup Florence led to a felony arrest Friday after a resident reported finding what appeared to be an abandoned truck on their lawn, according to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Robert Maciol said deputies responded to the Osceola Road area in the Town of Florence at about 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 21, 2026, after receiving a suspicious activity complaint. Investigators later determined that the gray Chevrolet pickup involved in the complaint had been reported stolen from the Buffalo area.
The unusual discovery prompted deputies to search the surrounding area and eventually detain a man they said matched a description provided by the caller.
Resident Reports Pickup Apparently Abandoned on Lawn
According to the Sheriff’s Office, members of the Road Patrol Division were dispatched after a caller noticed the gray Chevrolet pickup sitting on the property.
The resident told deputies the vehicle appeared to have been abandoned and also provided a description of a man who had been seen walking through the yard and who may have been operating the truck.
Deputies began canvassing the area.
Authorities said they soon encountered a man matching the description given by the resident. Deputies conducted what the Sheriff’s Office described as a “citizen’s stop,” interviewed the man and detained him shortly afterward.
The Sheriff’s Office did not report that anyone was injured during the incident.
Investigation Traces Vehicle to Buffalo Area
The Road Patrol Division and the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Unit continued investigating the pickup.
Deputies determined that the Chevrolet had been reported stolen from the Buffalo area, according to the department.
The Sheriff’s Office identified the man detained near the scene as Gary J. Black, 56, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Black was arrested and charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a Class E felony, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Under New York Penal Law Section 165.45, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property can apply in several circumstances. One provision covers a motor vehicle worth more than $100 when prosecutors allege that someone knowingly possessed stolen property with the required intent under the law. The statute classifies the offense as a Class E felony.
A criminal charge is an accusation. Black is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Black Released With Appearance Ticket
After his arrest, Black was transported to the Kurt B. Wyman Law Enforcement Building for processing, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said he was later released and issued an appearance ticket directing him to appear in Florence Town Court at a later date.
The Sheriff’s Office did not announce a court date in its public statement.
Officials also did not provide additional details about:
- When or precisely where in the Buffalo area the pickup was reported stolen
- How long the vehicle had allegedly been missing
- Whether investigators believe Black was involved in the original theft
- How the pickup came to be in Florence
- Whether additional charges are being considered
The available information supports only the possession charge announced by the Sheriff’s Office. No separate vehicle-theft charge against Black was listed in the release.
Multiple Agencies Assisted Investigation
The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office said the New York State Police and Amherst Police Department assisted with the investigation.
The involvement of Amherst police is consistent with deputies’ statement that the vehicle had been reported stolen in the Buffalo area, although the Sheriff’s Office did not publicly identify the specific community where the theft was originally reported.
That distinction is important. Being accused of possessing a stolen vehicle does not, by itself, establish that a defendant stole the vehicle.
What Is Fourth-Degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property?
Fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property is a Class E felony under New York law involving the alleged knowing possession of certain stolen property while intending to benefit oneself or another person, or to interfere with the owner’s recovery of that property.
The law includes several categories of property. For motor vehicles other than motorcycles, the statute can apply when the vehicle’s value exceeds $100.
For prosecutors, however, establishing that property was stolen is only part of the case. The statute also contains a knowledge and intent requirement. Those elements ultimately must be established through the court process if the case proceeds.
That is why an arrest report should not be interpreted as a finding of guilt.
Suspicious Activity Report Sparked the Case
One notable part of Friday’s incident is how it began.
There was no reported high-speed chase or major police operation. Instead, deputies say the investigation started because a resident noticed something unusual: a pickup sitting on a lawn where it apparently did not belong and a man walking through the property.
That call led deputies to:
- Respond to Osceola Road.
- Obtain a description from the resident.
- Search the surrounding area.
- Locate and detain a man matching that description.
- Investigate the pickup’s ownership.
- Determine the vehicle had been reported stolen.
- Make a felony arrest.
The episode illustrates how routine suspicious-activity reports can sometimes lead to investigations extending well beyond the original neighborhood.
What Happens Next
Black is expected to answer the charge in Florence Town Court.
Future court proceedings could provide additional information about the allegations, including how investigators connected Black to the truck and what evidence prosecutors intend to present.
For now, the publicly verified facts remain limited to those released by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office: a gray Chevrolet pickup was found apparently abandoned on a Florence property, deputies detained Black nearby, investigators determined the truck had been reported stolen in the Buffalo area, and Black was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
Residents who witness suspicious activity can contact local law enforcement. For emergencies, call 911.
The Utica Phoenix will continue to follow significant public-safety developments across Oneida County and Central New York as additional verified information becomes available.
Source: Oneida County Sheriff’s Office; New York State Senate Open Legislation.
