Suspected Alabama Thieves Try to Ditch Tractor

MASSEY, Ala. -- As they fled deputies Wednesday night, a duo who had stolen a farm tractor went to a lot of trouble trying to get rid of the heavy piece of evidence, Morgan County Sheriff Ana Franklin said.

Deputies caught one of the men, Jeffrey Blake Cruce, 41, of 925 Cullman County 1288, Vinemont, as he tried to drive away in the pickup that had been hauling the tractor, Franklin said.

Franklin said a neighbor of the victim saw the men loading the 1965 Massey-Ferguson tractor onto a utility trailer at a residence in the 3400 block of Alabama 157 at about 7:40 p.m.

The witness followed them, phoning the sheriff's dispatch to let deputies know which way they were going.

Franklin said the thieves pulled into a wooded area off Hardin Road, apparently to hide the stolen machine in a place where they could retrieve it later.

They had a plan for that, Franklin said, but it wasn't a good plan.

"They backed up to a telephone pole and attached a chain to the tractor, and they were gonna try to run out from under the tractor. That didn't work, so they went to an oak tree and tried the same thing. That's when they broke the receiver hitch part off the truck. I'm surprised it didn't tear the whole bed of the truck off," she said.

The tractor, which remained chained to the tree, had been pulled halfway off the end of the trailer, which was no longer attached to the truck, she said.

When the men saw Lt. Tom Hines and Deputy Perry Shands converging on them, they tried to flee. The deputies caught Cruce, but the other man escaped on foot, Franklin said.

Investigators think they know the second suspect and were working to confirm his identity Thursday.

Franklin said the tractor was recovered, and the pickup and utility trailer were held as evidence. She said the arrest and recovery of the property were made possible by the citizen who helped.

"We really appreciate the citizen watching out for their neighbors and calling in," Franklin said.

Copyright 2011 - The Decatur Daily, Ala.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service