JACKSON, Miss. – This week, the Mississippi Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau (MALTB) successfully recovered stolen agricultural equipment from two investigations. A skid steer valued at $135,000 was taken from Hinds County, while a truck and tractor with attachments worth a combined $113,000 were stolen from a Lincoln County farm.
The Hinds County Sheriff’s Office reported the theft of a 2021 Kubota SVL97-2 skid steer on September 24, 2024. MALTB was called in to assist shortly after. The skid steer was reportedly used to clear timber off right-of-ways near Hwy 27 in Utica. Thanks to an anonymous tip from a concerned citizen, the equipment was quickly located in a wooded area of rural Hinds County.
MALTB Director Dean Barnard emphasized the importance of community involvement, stating, “Calls like these help law enforcement combat crime. We encourage the public: if you see something, say something.”
On the same day, MALTB investigators aided in another case involving the theft of a 2022 white Ford F350 dually truck, a 22-foot trailer, and a Mahindra 5145L tractor with attachments. This theft was reported to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office on March 11, 2024, after landowners discovered the equipment missing from their farm.
Investigators identified a suspect in possession of the stolen equipment. On August 25, 2024, the Clinton Police Department was notified about the stolen truck, which was spotted pulling a horse trailer on I-20. Officers conducted a traffic stop due to violations and arrested the driver, Darion Fells, for multiple offenses, including possession of stolen property and having an altered VIN.
The investigation continued, leading to the recovery of the Mahindra 5145L tractor in Fayette, Mississippi, on September 24, 2024.
Director Barnard commended the efforts of all law enforcement agencies involved, including the Fayette Police Department, Clinton Police Department, and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation remains ongoing, with more arrests anticipated.
The Mississippi Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau, part of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, enforces laws related to agricultural theft. For more information or to report a crime, visit MALTB’s website or call (800) 678-2660.
