Published: August 26, 2009 06:51 pm      

Stolen truck, trailer recovered

County sheriff’s authorities have recovered a truck and trailer they say were taken from a local business earlier this week and then left abandoned on the side of a county road.

Troy Black, chief deputy for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, said his agency was contacted late Tuesday morning concerning the theft of a 2002 Chevrolet extended cab 3/4-ton pickup truck and an attached, 24-foot Gooseneck livestock trailer.

The truck valued at $8,500 and trailer valued at $6,000 were reportedly stolen from JCO Livestock located in the 700 block of CR 2303 in Montalba sometime between 8 p.m. Monday and 8 a.m. Tuesday, the chief deputy stated.

The stolen property was recovered around 2 a.m. Wednesday, according to Black.

“(Sheriff’s) deputy (Ronnie) Howell observed a vehicle parked on the shoulder of Anderson County Road 346 that matched the description (of the stolen vehicle),” Black said. “When he ran the plates, he realized it was the vehicle which had been reported stolen in our county.

“There was no damage to the truck or the trailer,” he continued. “The trailer was still attached to the truck.”

As of late Wednesday afternoon, the truck and trailer remained at a local storage yard and will be assessed by investigators today, according to Black.

“We’ll process it in the morning (Thursday)” for fingerprints and other potential evidence, the chief deputy stated.

Black complimented Howell for his efforts recovering the stolen property, describing him as “a real observant officer.”

The chief deputy said authorities presently have no suspects in the case which is being investigated as an unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

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Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com