BEDFORD – An investigation by the Bedford Police Department has resulted in an arrest in connection with the theft of 12 bags of Miracle-Gro All-Purpose soil mix from the Lincoln Elementary School garden. Bryon J. Watson, 41, of Bedford, has been charged with theft following an incident reported on June 21, 2025.
According to an affidavit for probable cause filed by Det. Maj. Kye Louden and the advisor of Lincoln Green Thumbs, who oversee the student garden club at Lincoln Elementary, reported the missing soil. She stated she had brought the 12 bags of soil to the garden on June 17, 2025, at 12:21 p.m.. Upon returning to the garden on June 21, she found that the soil had been removed.
Reviewing security footage showed Watson riding a bicycle and pulling a tarp-covered wagon from the garden area at approximately 11:00 p.m. on June 17. Partial video clips and pictures provided to authorities showed Watson wearing a dark gray tank top and red shorts, riding a bicycle with white tires and white handlebars. He was seen riding east on 20th Street before turning north on D Street. The stolen soil was valued at a total of $60.
Det. Maj. Louden began searching the area where the suspect was last seen in the video. His search led him to the 1000 block of C Street, the residence of Bryon Watson, where he located a black Specter bicycle with white tires and white handlebars matching the description from the footage.
On June 24, Det. Maj. Louden made contact with Bryon Watson at his home. During an audio-recorded conversation, Watson was shown photos of the bicycle from the Lincoln Elementary video. While he acknowledged the bicycle in his front yard matched the one in the video, he initially claimed it belonged to a friend who was currently incarcerated.
When confronted about being the person on the bicycle in the video, Watson reportedly admitted he was indeed the individual. He also admitted to taking the potting soil but claimed he only took six bags and believed they were sitting by the trash. The school later confirmed that 12 bags were stolen, and they were in the garden area, not near any garbage.
Watson informed the detective that he no longer had the soil, as he had already given it away. School officials were made aware of Watson’s admission and his inability to return the soil or pay for it immediately. After consideration, criminal charges were pursued rather than a civil agreement.
Based on the evidence and Watson’s confession, Det. Maj. Louden requested an arrest warrant for Bryon J. Watson on charges of theft. He was detained on July 3.
