WBIW.com News - local

Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana

Man Arrested After Stealing Farm Equipment

Last updated on Monday, September 19, 2011

(SOLSBERRY) - A Bloomington man was arrested after police say he stole farm equipment from a Solsberry farm and salvaged it.

Michael R. Tatum, is charged with burglary, a Class C felony, and theft, a Class D felony.
Greene County Sheriff's Department officers say Tatum and some of his friends took the stolen farm equipment to JB's Salvage in Bloomington and Chad's Recycling in Ellettsville. Officers caught Tatum on video tape and requested an arrest warrant.

Police say Joyce Rayle, who lives on north Copper Branch Road, reported missing a two-bottom plow, a bush hog and cultivator, an air compressor, a yard box, a swing set and other items taken from her barn.

Greene County Sheriff's Department Deputy Chris McDonald said in a probable cause affidavit that he found the yard box and several of the items at Chad's Recycling in Ellettsville. Police say Tatum and another man, Sammy Herron had brought in the items after cutting them up for salvage. McDonald said there were also pieces of the bush hog.

After reviewing video from the salvage yard, police determined that Tatum and Herron had also brought in a plow, swing set and a cultivator on Aug. 10.

Police say on Aug. 12 Tatum, Herron and Brandy Burkhardt took a pickup load of scrap metal to JB's Salvage in Bloomington.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Click here to go back to previous page