Staff Report

Forty-three pieces of heavy equipment stolen in Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio by two separate theft rings and valued at an estimated $1.3 million were recently recovered by the joint efforts of the Kentucky State Police, the FBI, the Carter County and Lewis County Sheriff’s Departments and the Scotio County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Dept.

A spokesman with the Kentucky State Police said the investigation started on March 5 when Carter County Deputy Sherriff Richard May, acting on information from the FBI office in Huntington, West Virginia, located 19 vehicles with their VIN numbers obscured at a private residence near Grayson.

The discovery led to the arrest of one male suspect on two charges of receiving stolen property, according to the spokesman.

Sgt. Bobby Motley, Det. Bill Riley and Det. Ryan Judd, of the Kentucky State Police Vehicle Investigations Unit, were called in to assist in the investigation on March 8 and identified 16 of the vehicles as having been stolen in Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio.

The number of vehicles recovered in Carter County eventually totaled 23 including one 2008 Cargo Express enclosed trailer, one 2003 Haulmark enclosed trailer, one 2008 Pitts flatbed trailer, one 2004 Cronkhite flatbed trailer, one 2004 Melrose excavator, one 5x12-foot flatbed trailer, one 5x10-foot flatbed trailer, one 2002 Big Tex flatbed trailer, one1992 Ford

dump truck, one 1982 Ford dump truck, one 1994 Ford dump truck, one 2000 Freightliner truck, one 2007 Winston flatbed trailer, one 2005 Talbert flatbed trailer, one 1994 Freightliner truck, one 2006 Cat track hoe, one 2002 Volvo grader, one 2008 Cat dozer, one Cat 5DMXL dozer, one 2005 Cat dozer, one 2008 Kubota tractor, one 1999 Raven semi trailer and one Cat jackhammer attachment, according to the spokesman

On March 11, Det. Riley and FBI agent Jeff Long joined Lewis County Deputy Sheriff Dwayne Stone in recovering a Cat D4G dozer that had been stolen from Ohio.

The investigators then traveled to a private residence on the outskirts of Portsmouth, Ohio, where, with the help of Scotio County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Denver Triggs, they located 11 stolen vehicles and pieces of equipment including one 2006 Cat excavator, one John Deere dozer, one Cat 580M backhoe, one Interstate flatbed trailer, one John Deere skid steer, one Komatsu mini excavator, one black flatbed trailer, one Vermeer wood chipper, one Bobcat sweeper attachment, one Bobcat bucket and one Komatsu bucket, the spokesman said.

On March 14, investigators returned to Lewis County where they recovered eight additional pieces of equipment including one 2005 John Deere backhoe, one Cat D3G dozer, one Bobcat skid steer, one John Deere 310G backhoe,  one John Deere 310SG, one Ditch Witch, one Hudson equipment trailer and one 2007 Takeuchi excavator.

Investigations are continuing by all the agencies involved and further charges and arrests are expected, the spokesman said.

Lewis County officials presented their monthly activity reports during the March meeting of Lewis County Fiscal Court.

Sheriff Bill Lewis filed his department’s report for activities from February 8, 2010, to March 8, 2010:

* Subpoenas Served   44

* Domestic Related Calls   84

* Civil Summons Served   23

* Felony Arrests   21

* Misdemeanor Arrests   20

* Accident Investigations    13

* Juvenile Investigations   18

* Criminal Summons   7

* Prisoners Transp. to Secure Facility   263 miles

* Juveniles Transported   309 miles

* DVOs and EPOs   4

* Court Bailiff Hours   430

* Prescription Deliveries   1

* Auto Inspections   68

* Funeral Escorts   6

Property Taxes Collected   $63,083.09

Franchise Taxes Collected   277.83

Total   $63,360.92

Stolen Property Recovered

* Yamaha 4-Wheeler   $1,000.00

Total   $1,000.00

Lewis County Emergency Management Director Carl Chaney reported the following activities:

* Performed all routine administrative/office tasks as required by KyEM.

* Turned in all monthly reports for KyEM.

* Participated in Earthquake Month.

* Attended a Hazmat Meeting in Fleming County.

* Provided dispatch coverage.

* Working on FEMA paperwork.

* Working on 911 issues.

* Working of Flood Plain issues.

The Lewis County E-911 Dispatch Center received a total of 384 calls for service for the following agencies:

* Sheriff’s Department   137

* Vanceburg Police Department   85

* Traffic Stops   29

* Injury Accidents   13

* Non-injury Accidents   26

* Complaints   55

Fire Department and other calls:

* Lewis Co. FD   3

* Camp Dix FD   4

* Garrison FD   14

* Vanceburg FD   4

* Firebrick FD   2

* Black Oak FD   3

* Kinniconick FD   1

* Tollesboro FD   13

* Med Corp Ambulance   112

* Coroner   0

* Emergency Medical Assistance   6

* Non-CAD Events   565

Road Supervisor Dane Howard reported that more than 1,734 tons of had been hauled over the previous month. He added the department had hauled 100 tons of salt.

Graded roads included Griffith Hollow, Pine Grove, Gerike Road, Cooper Fork, Long Branch and Griffitt Hollow.

Howard reported that pipe had been installed or repaired at Quicks Run, Hackworth Branch, Birchwood Lane and Craycraft Road.

Signs were painted and/or installed in the Garrison area, East Bentley Street, West Bentley Street, Charles Street, Dan Street and Jamison Street. Drainage repairs were made on Clear Creek Road.

Other repairs were made on Rock Run Road, Andrew Mason Road, Lions Club Road, Ben Willim Branch, Elk Lick Road, Long Branch, Lower Kinney, Thorp Ridge Road, Fuller Branch Road and Griffitt Cemetery Road.

Lewis County Jailer Tim Underwood filed the following activity report for February 1 – 28, 2010:

Inmate Population:

* State Inmates CC/CD/CI   32

* Traded   0

* Served Out   1

* Paroled   2

* County Inmates   46

* Inmates Booked In   64

* Average Daily Jail Population   80

Fees/Payments Collected:

* Booking, Housing, Medical, Damaged Property   $1,491,03

* Telephone Commission   $1,148.38

* Class D/CC/CI Pay for July   $22,188.72

Food

* Somerset Food in February  $6,357.97

* Check from Commissary   $4,000.00

Traveled 0 Miles

Underwood reported that 23 Class D inmates participated in the work program totaling 2,880 man hours. The agencies they assisted included The Lewis County Courthouse, Justice Center, Sheriff’s Department, City of Vanceburg, Solid Waste Program, Clean Highways Program, Garrison Little League, Garrison Boat Docks, Tollesboro Little League, Lewis County Historical Society, Lewis County Board of Education, Corps of Engineers, Helen Rayburn Library, and the Black Oak, Tollesboro and Camp Dix Fire Departments.

Underwood reported the commissary account at the jail totaled $14,597.25 and the inmate account had a balance of $5,110.05.

No report was submitted for the Lewis County Animal Control Office.

County Treasurer Kathy Dillow reported the total of all county funds for the month of February had a beginning balance of $1,019,274.01 and an ending balance of $1,004,633.47. Receipts for the month totaled $515,258.89 while disbursements totaled $529,899.43.

The next regular meeting of Lewis County Fiscal Court will be at 9:30 a.m. April 12, 2010, in the third floor courtroom of the Lewis County Courthouse.