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Recent hits may link to December 2023 thefts

Lowndes County Sheriff Chris West and his investigators responded to a tip from a Montgomery man Saturday, recovering stolen property which could link back to thefts of farm equipment going back to December 2023.

Late Friday evening, West received notice that a tractor, stolen from Montgomery County, was “pinging” through a GPS tracker as located in Lowndes County. Patrol Commander Rene Webster dispatched deputies Prince Williams and Olanda Franks to the location, 1387 Mingo Bracy Road in Lowndesboro, but the pair were unable to see the equipment due to the darkness of night.

On Saturday, April 5, around 6 a.m., Deputy Sedwick Williams returned to the residence where he was able to view a tractor belonging to Montgomery resident Rodrick Paul Hodges in plan sight from the neighbor’s yard. Joined by Deputies Kivontae Manuel and Garrett Harrell, he ran VIN and serial numbers, and discovered stolen farm equipment taken from Montgomery, Lowndes, Macon and Butler counties. 

“Mr. Hodges had recently filed a police report with the Montgomery Police Department in reference to his Kubota tractor being stolen,” West said. “Mr. Hodges had a GPS tracker on the tractor, which led him to the mentioned address. 

“Deputy Williams was able to see the tractor in plain view and also confirmed that the tractor was indeed stolen. While on scene, he ran the VIN of three other trailers that were also in plain view, and it was confirmed that they were all stolen as well.” 

According to lead investigator Colby Adams, equipment recovered could total nearly $100,000. Along with Hodges’ Kubota 9000 tractor, deputies recovered a goose-neck flatbed trailer and two other trailers at the residence belonging to Christopher McCall.

Adams said investigators will be talking to McCall, who is a person of interest in the case.

“At this point, we are not pointing any fingers,” Adams said.