Haleyville man arrested after vehicle found burning at abandoned railroad

HALEYVILLE - A Haleyville man has been arrested, facing  multiple charges after a vehicle was found burning beside the abandoned Illinois Central railroad tracks in the area of Alabama Avenue and 5th Avenue Monday night, April 16.
Jonathan Dewayne Cosby, 27, of 21330 State Highway 129, Haleyville, has been charged in both Marion and Winston counties in relation to the incident that occurred that night, indicated Police Chief Kyle Reogas.
Cosby was charged in Marion County with unauthorized use of a vehicle Tuesday night, April 17, then was arrested on his charges in Winston County the following day, Reogas noted.
Cosby has been charged in Winston County with criminal mischief first degree--a Class C Felony; attempting to unlawfully manufacture a controlled substance 2nd degree--a Class B Felony, Reogas added.
On Monday, April 16, Haleyville Police Department as well as Haleyville Fire Department were notified of a vehicle burning on the abandoned Illinois Central railroad tracks, Reogas said.
The fire department responded and extinguished the blaze, officials said.
After the blaze was extinguished, law enforcement were able to determine that the vehicle was a 2000 Kia Forte, gray in color, and that vehicle had earlier been reported to be involved in unauthorized use, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
The vehicle was taken without consent of the owner in Marion County, and a joint investigation from Haleyville Police and the Marion Sherif’s Office resulted in a person of interest being sought, said Reogas.
That person was interviewed, questioned by authorities and the statement which he gave resulted in him being charged in Winston County, he said.
Authorities learned that Cosby took the Kia that evening after he and his girlfriend--whose sister happened to be the vehicle owner--got into an argument, police said.
After the argument, Cosby reportedly took the Kia without permission and drove it to Hamilton where he purchased from various retail stores materials in order to manufacture meth, Reogas said.
These items included Liquid Lightning, cold packs, lithium batteries, lye, police noted.
Cosby then drove back to Haleyville, and decided to drive parallel with the abandoned IC railroad tracks in the area of Alabama Avenue and 5th Avenue, until the vehicle became struck and couldn’t go any farther, they added.
Cosby at this point walked to a nearby retail store and purchased some Coleman fuel, returned to the vehicle and realized he did not know how to cook meth or did not want to cook, according to what authorities learned in the investigation.
He then poured the Coleman fuel inside the car and set it on fire, leaving the scene on foot, police said.
Before setting the fire, Cosby took his girlfriend’s personal possessions out of the car but left the meth making ingredients inside, police said.
Marion County later picked up Cosby on the unauthorized use of a vehicle and  transported him to the Marion County Jail, Hamilton, law enforcement said.
Cosby was picked up on Wednesday, April 19, at the Marion County Jail and transferred to the Winston County Jail, Double Springs, on the charges he faces in that county, Reogas said.
Lyle’s Wrecker Service of Haleyville towed the burned out vehicle from the scene.
*When a defendant is charged with a crime, the charge is merely an accusation until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.