Three people have been arrested after stealing two trailers and “multiple truckloads of … tools.”
On Thursday morning, February 15, the Leitchfield Police Department responded to a report of a stolen trailer from the Sav-A-Lot construction site in the 500 block of Mill Street. Upon arriving at the scene, the victim told police that a 24-foot enclosed trailer was stolen from the construction site. The trailer contained construction tools, HVAC parts and equipment.
Nearby surveillance video showed the trailer leaving the area at approximately 1:30 Thursday morning. Police determined the suspect’s vehicle, a white SUV, turned south onto North Main Street from Mill Street, but the vehicle turned before going around the Leitchfield Public Square.
Then, on Wednesday, February 21, Leitchfield police, acting on a tip, began patrols in the Yeaman Road area and spotted the white SUV, thought to be connected to the stolen trailer, at 3650 Yeaman Road.
The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office was requested to assist in conducting a “knock and talk” at the residence. When officers made contact with the occupants, the suspects “quickly went back inside the residence and locked the door,” LPD Det. Sgt. Ian Renfrow said.
Leitchfield police then obtained a search warrant for the residence and Kentucky State Police was summoned to the scene for support.
While preparing the search warrant, a female exited the residence and advised police that one of the males inside was wanted out of Jefferson County. The female, Audrea Cheatham, identified the wanted man as her husband, Brandon Cheatham, who was confirmed to have multiple arrest warrants and was considered armed and dangerous, Renfrow said.
A few minutes later Brandon Cheatham exited the back of the residence and fled from officers, but he was quickly apprehended. Officers also made contact with another male, Patrick Thomas, at the back door of the residence. He was quickly detained.
“The search of the property led to the recovery of multiple truckloads of suspected stolen tools,” according to Renfrow. “The stolen trailer … was confirmed and recovered. Numerous tools were recovered from the scene that had been reported stolen Wednesday morning to the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office from a construction site on Annetta Road.”
The Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force, which assisted at the scene, located controlled substances (marijuana, opiates, and other legend drugs) and firearms.
“It was learned through investigation that the two male subjects had armed themselves while barricaded in the home. Those handguns were found to be fully loaded when recovered by officers,” Renfrow stated.
On Thursday, February 22, Leitchfield police uncovered further information which led to the possible location of a trailer stolen from a construction site on Anneta Road. The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office followed the lead and located the stolen trailer in Morgantown.
“This investigation, while multiple cases were solved, is considered ongoing and more charges may follow,” according to Renfrow.
Audrea Cheatham, Brandon Cheatham and Thomas, all of Louisville, were arrested and each charged with two counts of receiving stolen property (over $10,000). Brandon Cheatham and Patrick Thomas were served with multiple felony warrants out of Jefferson and Meade counties. Thomas was also charged with giving officers a false name and Brandon Cheatham additionally charged with fleeing or evading police (on foot).
All three were lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.
“LPD is continuing the investigation, as several thousand dollars’ worth of construction-related tools were recovered with names and other identifying characteristics,” Renfrow said. “We are working with surrounding counties to possibly identify items stolen from other construction sites in central Kentucky.”
(Headline photo l-r: Brandon Cheatham, Audra Cheatham, Patrick Thomas)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
