Sergeant Chad Ward (center) caught two thieves red handed.
Police Catch Alleged Thieves Red Handed, LIVINGSTON, August 4, 2014 - At approximately 1 am on August 4, 2014, Sergeant Chad Ward with the Livingston Police Department was on patrol. Officer Ward made a routine drive through of the parking lot of Lowe's and drove upon to men that had just loaded a large zero turn radius riding lawn mower into the back of their pickup. Ward got out of his car and ordered both men down on the ground. The men obeyed Ward's order. Ward called for backup and was quickly joined by Officer Adam Williford. The two ne'er-do-wells (Malcolm Dawson 25, and Thaddius Christopher Goins, 25, both of Houston) had used bolt cutters to cut the cable that secured the lawn mowers. Soon Officer Paul Benfer arrived then Deputy Cody Hardy with the Polk County Sheriff's Office arrived. Ward contacted Lowe's management and a manager was summoned to the scene. Management agreed to press charges. The men were placed under arrest and charged with theft. The pickup was recovered by Ken's Towing and will be stored at Harrison Body Shop in Livingston.
One of the two thieves sits in the back of a patrol unit. The thieves were loaded into separate vehicles.
The cable that is used to secure the riding mowers was cut with bolt cutters.
A member of Lowe's management assisted the officers in unloading the riding lawn mower.
Officers Paul Benfer and Adam Williford inventoried the pickup and found the bolt cutters used to cut the security cable.
The pickup was recovered by Ken's Towing.
Houdini assisted with towing duties.
Mixi kept an eye on things from the PolkCountyToday.com Jeep.
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