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Truck Theft Investigation Leads To Several Arrests
May 5, 2010
A joint investigation of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Butler Police Department, and the Kansas Highway Patrol has revealed a tractor trailer theft criminal enterprise. The investigation was initiated by the Butler Police Department, which initially began with a semi-trailer parked illegally on a private parking lot, which was found to be stolen. This subsequently led to further information about several stolen tractor trailers within the Kansas City metropolitan area. This information was forwarded to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Kansas Highway Patrol. The investigation has lead to the recovery of six stolen tractors and eight semi-trailers within the states of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Maryland. Two of the seized trailers had been seized previously by the California Highway Patrol and subsequently stolen from their storage facility. Within the confines of a trailer seized by the Kansas Highway Patrol were numerous stolen car parts and tools which is consistent with a rolling "chop shop" operation. The total value of the seizure is in excess of $500,000.
The investigation has led to the arrest of four individuals thus far, including Jaccard Fears, 42, of Raymore, Missouri, who is believed to be the individual responsible for orchestrating the thefts. Mr. Fears was arrested in Johnson County, Kansas, for possession of stolen property and was held on a $100,000 bond, which he has since posted. Nakia "Javon" Ford, 32, of Kansas City, Kansas, was arrested in Wyandotte County, Kansas, for possession of stolen property and was held on a $25,000 bond, which he since posted. Carlton A. Cummins, 47, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Gregory L. Dukes, 62, of Irving, Texas, were arrested in Butler, Missouri, for possession of equipment or parts with altered identification numbers/equipment or parts with missing or falsified identification. Both Cummins and Dukes were held on a $25,000 bond and have since posted their respective bonds.
The above charges are mere accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
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