Police Arrest Man Wanted in Lawn Mower Thefts

William Roy Tubbs, 43, of Fort Smith has been arrested in connection with a truck and lawn mowing equipment theft at Myers Mower & Tiller on Wheeler Avenue Sunday afternoon.

Police recovered the  blue, 2004 Dodge truck Tubbs allegedly stole from the business. 

Tubbs was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center without bond on charges of felony theft by receiving and a parole violation.

He was identified as a suspect through a Crime Stoppers tip, police say.

Officers were called to Myer’s Mower and Tiller after the owner reported the theft. The shop’s owner told police he stopped by the shop around 4 p.m. after a fishing trip and noticed his company truck backed up to the loading dock behind a gate, which was supposed to be locked.

Surveillance video shows a white man in a red t-shirt, camo shorts, and a white ball cap, loading push mowers and chain saws into the back of a blue pickup. The man then flings open the gate and speeds away from the business.

Police say the owner tried to retrieve his pistol from inside his truck as the suspect drove away. The owner followed the suspect, but lost him going northbound on Wheeler Avenue, according to a police report.

Surveillance video also shows the same suspect at the business earlier in the afternoon “staging” the items he wanted to steal, police say.

Officers recovered a duffle bag with multiple items including bolt cutters used to cut the lock off the business’ gate.

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