NEWPORT — A 41-year-old Newport man was arrested last week after police say he stole a vehicle from a business parking lot and was later found driving it.

Nicholas Copeland Hiseley was taken into custody without incident on Dec. 18 following a traffic stop on West Olive Street near Northwest High Street, according to a Newport Police Department news release.

The incident began around 9:54 a.m. that day when officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle at 27 S. Coast Highway. The owner had left the vehicle unattended while shopping inside a business, the release said.

Newport officers and Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies searched the area and reviewed surveillance footage, which showed the theft and led them to identify Hiseley as the suspect, police said.

A deputy soon located the vehicle in Newport and, with assistance from officers, conducted the traffic stop. Hiseley was identified as the driver and arrested.

He was booked into the Lincoln County Jail on charges of first-degree theft, unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, unauthorized use of a vehicle and unlawful possession of methamphetamine.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Valentine at the Newport Police Department at 541-574-3348.

Tips can also be submitted to the Newport Police Tip Line at 541-574-5455, by text to 541-270-1856 or by email to [email protected].