2 arrested, 1 wanted after search for stolen tractor, RTV leads Campbell Co. investigators to South Carolina
CAMPBELL COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — The Campbell County Sheriff's Office has arrested two individuals and is looking for another after a string of thefts in Campbell County and Lynchburg that led investigators down to the Southside and as far as Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
According to the Sheriff's Office, on May 26, at approximately 5:40 p.m. a black Jeep was seen pulling off the side of Wards Road in front of Phillips Equipment.
Deputies said the occupants, a man and woman, were seen on security footage loading a John Deere 2025 R compact utility tractor, valued at $20,000 onto a trailer being towed by the Jeep.
On May 27 at approximately 8:30 p.m. a white Jeep pulling a utility trailer was seen on the property of Kubota of Lynchburg on Wards Road.
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The occupants, two men, were seen on surveillance footage pushing a Kubota RTV across Wards Road where deputies said the vehicle was loaded onto the trailer being pulled by the Jeep previously. The Kubota RTV has a value in excess of $22,000.
On June 1, information was given to the Investigations Division of the Sheriff's Office that the stolen tractor from Phillips Equipment was seen in Henry County on May 27 by a Henry County Deputy Sheriff.
The Deputy was able to identify the people having possession of the tractor at that time. The Sheriff's Office said the identified suspects matched the suspects caught on surveillance at Phillips Equipment stealing the tractor.
On June 2, investigators traveled to Henry County where the tractor was previously seen.
According to deputies, the tractor was no longer on the property, but arrest warrants were obtained for Chad Lee Reed, 38, and Heather Leigh Davis, 33, both of Axton, VA, for theft of the Philips Equipment tractor.
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Davis was arrested in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on an unrelated matter. Reed was later arrested in Davidson County, North Carolina on unrelated charges.
On June 6, investigators traveled to Conway, South Carolina, as they continued to investigate the string of larcenies. The investigation led them to a home in Conway where the stolen John Deere Tractor from Phillips Equipment was recovered.
While in Conway, investigators determined that the suspects, Davis and Reed, had fraudulently obtained two Ford Mustangs and a Harley Davidson Motorcycle, as part of the transaction involving the John Deere Tractor.
The Sheriff's Office said Martinsville Police Investigators recovered the two stolen Ford Mustangs outside a home in the city.
The stolen Harley Davidson Motorcycle was recovered in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
While investigating the other theft of the Kubota RTV, investigators identified the two suspects seen on surveillance video as the aforementioned Chad Reed, as well as his brother Dayton Lee Reed, Jr., 41, of Martinsville.
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According to the Sheriff's Office, Dayton is still wanted.
Arrested: Chad Lee Reed
- 5/26 Larceny from Phillips Equipment
- 5/27 Larceny from Kubota of Lynchburg
Arrested: Heather Leigh Davis
- 5/26/ Larceny from Phillips Equipment
Wanted: Dayton Lee Reed, Jr.
- 5/27 Larceny from Kubota of Lynchburg
Anyone with additional information regarding these investigations or suspects, contact Investigator L.T. Guthrie, or Captain T.A. Emerson at 434-332-9580.