Homer Police last Friday arrested a Dumpster diving thief alleged to have stolen a Colt .45 Model 1911 handgun from a truck parked at the Kachemak Bowl bowling alley and then stashed the gun in the Dumpster.

Jessie C. Lewis, 20, of Homer was arraigned over the weekend on charges of second-degree theft, a class C felony, third-degree theft and tampering with or damaging a vehicle.

According to an affidavit filed by Officer Larry Baxter, the gun's owner reported about 9:10 p.m. Jan. 15 that someone stole the handgun, an iPod and a USB cable from his Dodge pickup truck. The man told police he had seen earlier a man, a teenage boy and a woman near his truck while he was in the bowling alley. Baxter searched the area and found the man's gun in the Dumpster.

The man's truck was unlocked, said Homer Police Lt. Randy Rosencrans.

After Baxter left, the man stayed at the Kachemak Bowl and called police about 30 minutes later to say he'd seen the suspected thieves return to the scene and dig through the Dumpster. The man chased the suspects and caught Lewis while two others fled.

Baxter arrested Lewis and while searching him at the Homer Jail found a USB cable and an iPod cover matching the description of the man's missing iPod.

Police later spoke to a friend of Lewis who said he and Lewis were walking near Kachemak Bowl when he saw Lewis enter the truck and take the handgun and iPod. The friend told police Lewis let him handle the Colt and then saw Lewis put the gun in the Dumpster so Lewis could come and get it later.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong.@homernews.com.