Local Man Goes On Stealing Spree, Caught In Act

Sullivan Police arrested a man who went on an early morning stealing spree. 

Marion D. Lauderdale, Jr., 69, Sullivan, was arrested after allegedly stealing barbecue grills and trailers from two area businesses. He returned to gather more items when he was nabbed by officers.

According to police, the department was alerted at 3:45 a.m. to a commercial burglar alarm sounding at Bomgaars Supply, located 124 East South Service Road

Officers arrived to find that a utility trailer and garden trailer had been stolen from the business after an alarm cable was cut.

Alert officers observed a new gas grill laying in a nearby roadway, determining the grill had been stolen from Lowe’s.

A short time later, police were contacted by a citizen who had located a trailer on Sleepy Hollow Road, just south of Sullivan.

A Franklin County deputy, along with Sullivan Police, responded to recover the trailer, but when they arrived, they learned from a concerned citizen that the suspect had returned to retrieve the trailer. He had fled the scene in an older model Dodge Dakota.

While waiting for a tow truck to arrive and recover the trailer, the suspect’s vehicle returned again to the scene. Officers attempted to stop it.

Lauderdale almost struck an officer attempting to stop him, and Franklin County deputies gave pursuit but discontinued after losing sight of the truck.

A short time later, Lauderdale attempted to continue his stealing spree by returning to Bomgaars with a grill in the back of the truck and backing up to nab another trailer.

He then left the store and police attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The truck fled south of Sullivan on Highway 185.

Sullivan officers were ultimately able to apprehend Lauderdale outside of a residence off Highway A, in Washington County.

During the investigation, officers determined that Lauderdale allegedly stole three gas grills and a utility trailer from Lowe’s and a utility cart from Bomgaars Supply.

While warrants are still being applied for Lauderdale through the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Lauderdale was held in the Crawford County Jail on a probation violation warrant with no bond.