FOR IMMIEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 1, 2016
CONTACT: Laramie Adams
CELL: 512-922-7328
Sulphur Springs, Texas – Seven out of possibly 22 suspects involved in an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) theft ring were arrested in January 2016 on charges of organized criminal activity after allegedly stealing ATVs in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Special Rangers and local law enforcement authorities have recovered a total of 14 stolen ATVs so far in this continuing investigation.
TSCRA Special Ranger Toney Hurley and Sulphur Springs Police Department Sgt. Bo Fox are jointly leading the investigation. TSCRA Special Rangers Troy McKinney, Wayne Goodman and law enforcement departments in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana are assisting.
Seven suspects involved in the theft ring were arrested from Jan. 6 – Jan. 29. The suspects are: Joshua Christopher Terry, 35, of Kemp, Texas; Laronda Kay Reed, 30, of Kemp, Texas; Darrell Wayne Waites, Jr., 35, of Deville, LA; James Lindy Minter, 38, of Kemp, Texas; Ricardo Saldivar, 35, of Combine, Texas; Brian Wheeler, 42, of Balch Springs, Texas; and David Paul Rockwell, 35, of Terrell, Texas.
According to Hurley, he became involved when multiple ATV units were reported stolen on Nov. 23, 2015 from Nor-Tex Tractor in Sulphur Springs, Texas. The investigation revealed the Nor-Tex theft was linked to other ATV thefts reported on April 23, 2015 in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.
So far, six ATV units worth a total of approximately $74,000 have been recovered from the Nor-Tex theft and eight additional units have been recovered from the April 2015 thefts. The 14 ATVs were recovered in: Kemp, Texas; Seagoville, Texas; Terell, Texas; Dallas, Texas; Balch Springs, Texas; Scurry, Texas; River Oaks, Texas; Sulphur Springs, Texas; and Deville, LA.
This is an ongoing investigation and additional arrests are expected in this case. Authorities are continually receiving information from multiple jurisdictions on related criminal activities as far as eastern Tennessee.
TSCRA would like to thank the following law enforcement agencies for their continued hard work and diligence during this investigation: Hopkins County TX Sheriff’s Office, Kaufman County TX Sheriff’s Office, Forney TX Police Dept., Dallas TX Police Dept., Seagoville TX Police Dept., Mesquite TX Police Dept., River Oaks TX Police Dept., Lindale TX Police Dept., Longview TX Police Dept., Athens TX Police Dept., Maybank TX Police Dept., Texas Dept. of Public Safety (DPS) – Criminal Investigations Dept., TxDPS Texas Rangers, Tuttle OK Police Dept., Bryan County OK Sheriff’s Office, Muskogee OK Police Dept., Bossier Parish LA Police Dept, Bossier City LA Police Dept., Rapides Parish LA Sheriff’s Office and Vernon Parish LA Sheriff’s Office.
“This case provides a great example of TSCRA Special Rangers working in conjunction with multiple other law enforcement agencies to stop widespread criminal activity and make sure thieves are held accountable for their actions,” said Hurley. “This type of theft case can negatively impact ranchers who rely on using equipment, such as ATVs, to perform their daily operations. This is why TSCRA Special Rangers investigate more than livestock theft.”
To view a photo of the suspects, visit https://tscra.org/images/ATV_THEFT_SUSPECTS.jpg.
###
TSCRA has 30 special rangers stationed strategically throughout Texas and Oklahoma who have in-depth knowledge of the cattle industry and are trained in all facets of law enforcement. All are commissioned as Special Rangers by the Texas Department of Public Safety and/or the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
TSCRA is a 139-year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has more than 17,000 beef cattle operations, ranching families and businesses as members. These members represent approximately 50,000 individuals directly involved in ranching and beef production who manage 4 million head of cattle on 76 million acres of range and pasture land primarily in Texas and Oklahoma, but throughout the Southwest.