Two arrested on John Deere burglary

Hill County Sheriff Jamieson Ross said today that two men were arrested on suspicion of robbing the local John Deere dealership, and law enforcement recovered the stolen property.

Fabian Saddler Jr. 19, and Darrell Gardipee III, also 19, are being held in the Hill County Detention Center on suspicion of felony burglary, theft and criminal mischief.

Ross said in the release that the sheriffs office recovered a 2011 John Dere Gator utility vehicle and a 2019 John Deere 835 Gator utility vehicle that were stolen during an early morning burglary at Frontline Ag Solutions. Both vehicles were damaged.

Further investigation led to sheriff's deputies obtaining search warrants and the searches resulted in recovery of stolen property from other thefts in the area, Ross said, and led to the arrests of Saddler and Gardipee.

The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected, Ross added.

He said the sheriff's office wanted to thank the public for its assistance in the investigation and reminded people to secure their homes, vehicles and personal property to prevent thefts and to report suspicious activity.

"It is crucial we all work together to make our community safer," Ross said.