(KAIR)--United States mail, recovered on roadways in the area of Atchison County's 274th Road, sparks an investigation by the Atchison County Sheriff's Office, which landed a man in jail on mail theft charges while his alleged female accomplice is facing drug possession charges.

The investigation, which led to the arrest of the two 23-year-olds, Michael Beebe, of Nortonville, and Chelsea Martin of Atchison, began after the Sheriff's Office was notified August 20 by a resident who had recovered mail from the roadway on Phillips Road, between 262nd and 274th Roads, that had been addressed to a residence at 262nd Road, just east of U.S. Highway 59, and residences on 274th Road, between Phillips and Rawlins. Additional mail, addressed to other residences in that area, was recovered at the intersection of 274th and Rawlins Roads.

Working with residents in that area who are equipped with surveillance cameras, Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, in a release, says his investigators were able to obtain footage of a car that appeared to be accessing mailboxes at multiple locations along 274th Road.

On August 25, the Sheriff's Office was notified by a citizen who reported they saw the possible suspect vehicle pull into their driveway, located on 262nd road, just east of Ottawa Road, and a woman walk to the door, then back to the vehicle, before leaving.

With additional video footage obtained from that location, deputies later discovered the vehicle parked at an Atchison hotel, located at 401 South 10th Street, where a man believed to be associated with the car, now identified as Beebe, was taken into custody. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of what Laurie identifies as multiple pieces of mail belonging to residents in Atchison and Leavenworth counties.
Beebe was arrested for felony theft of mail from three separate locations within 72 hours, as well as possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

According to Laurie, it was four days later, on August 29, that "deputies located the female who was identified as the driver of the maroon vehicle from the residence on 262nd Road."
Taken into custody, for an Atchison Municipal Court warrant, was Martin, who was subsequently arrested for posssession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. As of Wednesday, she had not been charged with theft in connection with the mail case.

Both Martin and Beebe remain in custody at the Atchison County Jail. Her bond has not been set, while his is set at $40,000.

Laurie says the investigation is continuing.