Rural Investigators Bust Northeast Alabama Cattle Theft Ring

Randall Weiseman Alabama, Cattle, General, Livestock

From the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries:

Montgomery, AL –Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries John McMillan extends his sincere appreciation for a job well done to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Agriculture Rural Crime Unit (ARCU) for two arrests that were made yesterday related to recent cattle thefts in DeKalb County.

ARCU agents, Tim Mathews and Jay Whitehead, along with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office arrested brothers, David Grant Fulmer, 28, of Collinsville, and Eddie Ray Fulmer, 31, of Albertville. David Fulmer is charged with two counts of first-degree theft of property. Eddie Fulmer is also charged with two counts of first-degree theft of property as well as third-degree receiving of stolen property and promoting prison contraband. Both men were booked into the DeKalb County Detention Center Wednesday, May 28 with additional charges pending according to DeKalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris.

The arrests came about as a result of teamwork between the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and the ARCU. The investigation started when approximately 50 head of cattle went missing in the New Harmony community between May 13 and 24. Farm equipment was also reported stolen. Two cattle were found shot on County Road 458 on May 25 and ARCU was notified on May 26.

Sheriff Harris said, “I appreciate all the help we received on this case from the Agriculture Rural Crime Unit. These investigators are very familiar with these types of thefts and have contacts all over the South to track cattle and livestock movements. This is another case of working together with all available resources to solve crimes.”

ARCU Commander Gene Wiggins said, “ARCU investigators specialize in agricultural and rural crimes. Through strategic partnerships with local law enforcement throughout the state, over the 10 months, our unit has investigated over 100 cases, made 55 arrests, recovered more than $1.5 million in stolen property.” Wiggins continued, “We take cattle theft and equipment theft very seriously and we are committed do whatever it takes to track these thieves down.”

Commissioner McMillan stated, “As we approach the one-year anniversary of establishing the ARCU I think it’s clear that when law enforcement agencies work together criminals will be brought to justice.”

A rural crime tip line is available 1-855-75CRIME for members of the public to report a farm crime or suspicious activity.

Commander Wiggins emphasized that nothing replaces 911 in case of an emergency but encourages those in rural areas to use this tip line if they see something unusual. The tip line is to be used to report suspicious activity which could be something as simple as seeing a vehicle you don’t recognize driving around on your neighbor’s property, this might just be the tip ARCU investigators are looking for.