Coty Shane HardmanCLEVELAND, Tenn. - Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson announced today that nearly 100 burglary and theft cases - some dating as far back as mid-2013 - have been solved in cooperation with the Cleveland Police Department and Polk County Sheriff's Office.
"This was the largest theft/burglary ring bust in a decade," said Watson during a news conference at the Bradley County Judicial Complex.
Coty Shane Hardman, 23, of Cleveland, arrested on Oct. 19, is a key suspect in the crimes that occurred in Bradley and Polk counties, he said.
Hardman was arrested when the vehicle he was in was stopped by Bradley County deputies in response to a theft-in-progress call, Watson said. He was taken into custody immediately on warrants for failure to appear in Bradley County General Sessions Court.
Reportedly stolen property that included a Stihl backpack blower and a Husqvarna gasoline hedge trimmer was found in the vehicle.
The high-end, name-brand items were consistent with the kinds of landscaping equipment stolen in many of the other burglaries and thefts, Watson said.
Polk County Sheriff Steve Ross said a number of items reported stolen have been recovered and are being returned to their rightful owners.
The cooperation among the Bradley County, Cleveland and Polk County law enforcement agencies serves as a "great example" to other law enforcement agencies in the district and across the state, said Steve Crump, district attorney for the 10th Judicial District.
For complete details, see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.