Five people were arrested Thursday, March 30 as a result of an active timber theft investigation stemming from Pulaski County.
Indiana Conservation Officers made the arrests after suspected stolen timber was observed during a traffic stop on Wednesday, March 29, according to the report. Officers say information was gathered linking all subjects to a recent complaint of timber theft.
The suspects arrested were 36-year-old Jeremiah Schwanke, 29-year-old Larissa Schwanke and 32-year-old Jonathan Petty from Wheatfield, and 31-year-old Richard Schwanke and 32-year-old Kristyn Hickman from San Pierre.
Conservation officers worked closely with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department and the Medaryville Police Department in this investigation which remains ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding this case, or other suspicious timber cutting in Northern Indiana, is asked to call DNR Law Enforcement Central Dispatch at 812-837-9536.
DNR Law Enforcement recommends that landowners who are prospective timber sellers work only with licensed and bonded timber buyers and that they secure written contracts for all timber transactions.
Suspects are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in a court of law.
