Three Medaryville residents were arrested Tuesday after an ongoing theft investigation by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department.
Eight thefts were reported between the months of March and October in 2010 from rural farms in Rich Grove and Cass Townships on U.S. 421 in Pulaski County. Two operational semi-tractors, two inoperable cars and one pickup, tractor weights, and several other items and farm implements were stolen. Scrap steel was also reported stolen from the FTC business in Francesville.
The suspects, 22-year-old Tyson Matthews, 30-year-old Benjamin Fitch and 26-year-old Kurt Timberlake, allegedly stole the items and sold them for scrap value. Most of the stolen articles were sold to Starke County Recycling in Knox or Paul’s Auto Salvage in Westville and were cut up when presented as scrap. Detectives obtained receipts and tickets from those locations confirming the transactions.
During the course of the investigation, detectives were also able to obtain information relating to two similar thefts in Jasper County.
Matthews, Fitch and Timberlake were arrested on a preliminary charge of Theft. Matthews and Timberlake have posted bond, but Fitch is being held in the Pulaski County Jail on a $30,000 surety bond.
