This week, two different instances involving stolen agricultural equipment worth at over $200,000 were successfully recovered with the help of the Mississippi Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau (MALTB). A skid steer, tractor, vehicle, and trailer were among the stolen items from Hinds and Lincoln counties.
The first instance was a $135,000 Kubota SVL97-2 skid steer from 2021 that was taken from Hinds County.
On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office first reported the theft. MALTB investigators swiftly tracked down the stolen skid steer in a rural Hinds County woodland area. The skid steer was being used to remove timber along Highway 27 in Utica.
“The stolen skid steer was recovered with the help of a concerned citizen who made an anonymous call to the Mississippi Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau,” MALTB Director Dean Barnard stated. “Calls like these are crucial in assisting law enforcement to combat crime in our communities and across the state. We encourage the public—if you see something, say something.”
Barnard expressed gratitude to the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office and MALTB detectives for their prompt action and hard work in locating the pilfered skid steer.
MALTB detectives participated in another recovery operation in Lincoln County that same day. A 2022 Ford F350 dually truck, a 22-foot trailer, a Mahindra 5145L tractor, a front-end loader, and a Titan rotary cutter were among the items taken, according to a March 2024 report. The $113,000 worth of equipment was taken from a farm while the owners were abroad.
MALTB investigators found a suspect who was in possession of the pilfered equipment. Following notification from MALTB, the Clinton Police Department recovered the stolen Ford F350 vehicle carrying a horse trailer on I-20 East on August 25, 2024.
Following a traffic stop by the police, Darion Fells, the driver, was taken into custody on charges of receiving and possessing stolen merchandise as well as breaking the Mississippi Chop Shop Law by having an altered vehicle identification number (VIN).
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Fells was arrested by Clinton Police and released on bond following his initial court appearance.
Fells was arrested, and the MALTB carried out the investigation. On September 24, 2024, the stolen Mahindra 5145L tractor was found in Fayette, Mississippi.
The MALTB detectives, the Clinton Police Department, the Fayette Police Department, and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office were all recognized by Director Barnard for their collaborative efforts in cracking these cases. The investigation is still underway, and further arrests are anticipated.
