AUBURN, Ind. (AP) — Northeastern Indiana officials have issued an arrest warrant for embattled former auction house owner Dean V. Kruse, who’s faced years of legal battles over his business practices.

DeKalb County officials tell The Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne they’re looking for the 69-year-old auctioneer.

The newspaper reports Pennsylvania court records show Kruse was charged Monday with felony theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received.

Indiana suspended Kruse’s auctioneer’s license last year and he’s been sued repeatedly in recent years for business practices that include not releasing funds to vehicle consignors or vehicle titles to purchasers.

Kruse’s former Auburn-based auction house Kruse International was stripped of its license last year by the Indiana Auctioneer Commission.

A message seeking comment was left Tuesday for the DeKalb County sheriff.

___

Information from: The Journal Gazette, http://www.journalgazette.net

#   #   #

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.