Stolen items worth estimated $500K
A local man and an accomplice have been arrested in connection with stealing several pieces of farm equipment and vehicles in Tate County amidst an ongoing investigation into a ring of area thefts.
Captain Lisa Sanders from the Tate County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspects as Gary Louis “Bubba” Mills Jr., 52, of Senatobia, and Melville Dewitt Curtis III, 52, of West Memphis, Ark.
Mills was charged with receiving stolen property and felony possession of controlled substance – methamphetamine. His bond was set at $150,000 during an initial appearance in Tate County Justice Court on Thursday, March 23. Curtis, whose bond was set at $50,000, was charged with receiving stolen property.
Sanders said TCSO officials assisted Investigator Alan Thompson from the Mississippi Agricultural & Livestock Theft Bureau (MALTB) with the recovery of stolen farm equipment Tuesday, March 21, at approximately 2:20 p.m., amidst a continuing investigation.
Mills, who is also facing charges of receiving stolen property in Panola County, was taken into custody in the 600 block of Sides Bottom Road in Tate County, while Curtis was arrested in the Burger King parking lot in Senatobia, according to Sanders.
A press release from MALTB stated Mills also violated the Mississippi Chop Shop Law after agents seized farm equipment and vehicles with an estimated value of $500,000.
Some of the recovered items include: two combine headers with trailers, Kubota cab and air 4x4 tractor, 2023 Caterpillar excavator, Land Pride batwing bush hog, commercial fertilizer spreader, Koufman pintle hitch trailer, disk, spray tank with booms, Lincoln welder, fuel tanks, cultivator, 2022 3500 GMC Duramax Denali truck, Ford F250 crew cab truck, 1996 Ford flatbed truck, and a four door Can-Am Maverick.
The arrests and ongoing investigation are part of joint effort between multiple law enforcement agencies including TCSO, Panola County Sheriff’s Office, Tunica Police Department, Hernando Police Department, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Mississippi Agricultural and Livestock Theft Bureau. Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson commended the MALTB and all law enforcement involved in the investigation.
“Crime doesn’t pay, and our law enforcement team will hold wrongdoers accountable. I would like to thank our Agricultural and Livestock Theft Bureau and all of our partners in state and local law enforcement who assisted with this investigation leading to the arrest of these individuals. We look forward to seeing the perpetrators swiftly brought to justice,” said Gipson.
The Mississippi Agricultural and Livestock Theft Bureau, a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, enforces state laws pertaining to the theft of cattle, horses, swine, poultry, fish, farm equipment, chemicals, timber and all other farm or agriculture-related crimes.
Sanders said anyone with information to assist in the recovery of other stolen items in the area or if you purchased merchandise from the two suspects, call TCSO at 662-562-4434 or Investigator Thompson from MALTB at 601-359-1121.
