UPS employee arrested for theft of firearm in Vanderburgh County

VANDERBURGH COUNTY, Ind.–A UPS employee from Vanderburgh County was arrested Tuesday after investigators said he admitted to stealing parcels during an investigation into a missing firearm shipment.

Deputies were called to a local gun store on Aug. 18 after a firearm shipped through UPS to an out-of-state buyer failed to arrive. The package had reportedly been shipped several days earlier, but tracking information was unavailable.

A Sheriff’s Office detective assigned as a Task Force Officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with a special agent from the local ATF field office, began investigating the missing firearm.

With assistance from the local UPS facility, investigators were able to trace the package to the UPS facility. Security camera footage allegedly showed UPS employee Miray Arness Smith concealing at least two packages instead of processing them through the facility.

Investigators interviewed Smith on Aug. 25 after advising him of his Miranda rights. According to investigators, Smith admitted stealing parcels but denied stealing the handgun.

During the interview, however, Smith reportedly said he could retrieve the handgun and return it to law enforcement if he would not be charged with theft. Investigators said Smith declined to provide additional information about where the firearm was located or explain how he would be able to retrieve it.

Smith was taken into custody and lodged in the Vanderburgh County Jail on a theft-of-a-firearm charge.

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