Two Bay Springs men and a local minor accused of stealing several ATV’s across the area have been arrested by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department.
According to JCSD Detective Jody White, Jatron Thigpen, 18, was taken into custody by the department last Tuesday, and Demarcus Holliday, 24, was taken into custody last Wednesday. Both were charged with two counts of grand larceny. The minor’s name was not released, but he also faces grand larceny charges.
White said that two four-wheelers were stolen on the same night, one at a residence on CR 27-5 in the Antioch Community and another on CR 182 in Bay Springs. Both ATV’s were recovered.
“Through the investigation, we recovered both of those [four-wheelers] and formed two suspects. They gave confessions to the crimes, and they were Demarcus Holliday and Jatron Thigpen,” White mentioned. “They led us to a third suspect who is a minor who has already been to Youth Court and is awaiting a hearing on two counts of grand larceny just like the other two.”
White went on to say that the investigation also led to the recovery a four-wheeler stolen from Jones County and a four-wheeler stolen from Pro-Flow Motor Sports in Laurel.
“They were stealing these four-wheelers late at night, driving them back up the road, leaving them in the woods, and coming back to get them,” White indicated. “People need to be vigilant in watching their property. If they see the same vehicle going slow by their property two or three times, pay attention to that. Make sure you take your keys out of your four-wheelers or any outdoor property. Don’t make yourself an easy target.”
The investigation is still ongoing, and White expects more arrests.