Laundromat Thief Arrested During Traffic Stop

Dillian Peterson

By Jessie Williams

A Lafayette man wanted for the theft of approximately $200 in quarters from a local laundromat, was arrested by Macon County deputies last week following a traffic stop involving methamphetamine.

According to law enforcement reports, 26-year-old Dillian Lee Peterson was identified in video surveillance, along with two other individuals, vandalizing a coin machine located inside a laundromat on Scottsville Rd. and taking the quarters out of it on January 20, 2025.

The value was estimated to be around $200, and the owner advised authorities that a laundromat employee had previously trespassed all three suspects seen in the video.

On January 28, 2025, Macon County deputy Jacob Lopata was on patrol, when he observed Mr. Peterson driving a vehicle that belonged to his girlfriend.

Knowing that Peterson had active warrants, the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, activating his lights and sirens, but the vehicle continued at a high rate of speed.

Deputies teamed up in an attempt to box Mr. Peterson’s vehicle in multiple times to end the pursuit, but each time the driver would go around the patrol cars and into oncoming traffic.

At one point, the suspect almost hit a deputy’s vehicle head-on.

The pursuit continued for roughly three miles at speeds between 80 and 90 mph, until a pit maneuver was used to end it.

At that time, Mr. Peterson exited the vehicle and ran from the scene until he was apprehended and placed under arrest.

Deputy Lopata’s report states that Peterson admitted to having consumed a gram of methamphetamine before the officer attempted to pull him over.

A small piece of methamphetamine and a dollar bill with residue on it, were located inside the vehicle driven by Mr. Peterson.

Peterson was charged with violation of probation, evading arrest, tampering with or fabricating evidence, theft of property, criminal trespassing, reckless driving, speeding, driving on a revoked or suspended license, reckless endangerment, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine.

His bond was set at $45,500 and he is scheduled to appear in general sessions court on March 5, 2025.