[Montgomery, Alabama] Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Agricultural & Rural Crime Unit (ARCU), working in conjunction with the Shelby County Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s Offices, the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s and District Attorney Offices, made three agricultural-related arrests in two Alabama counties.
ARCU agents arrested Timothy Lynn Blankenship, 32, of Vincent, and Johnathan Earl Baker, 28, of Columbiana, on two counts each of killing or disabling livestock. Both were released on bond. Charges for the suspects stem from the July 2012 case in Wilsonville where 10 Black Angus cows were shot and killed during a two-day time frame.
In an unrelated case under investigation by the ARCU and Lauderdale County Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s Offices, Darryl Wade Paulk, 31, of Florence was arrested by the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and charged with first degree theft of property and tampering with physical evidence. Paulk was released on bond. In addition, a warrant has been issued for Bill Ray Foster, 40, of Florence, for first degree theft of property.
The ARCU partners with local law enforcement to investigate agriculture and rural crimes such as theft of farm animals and farm equipment, fraud, and agroterrorism. The ARCU is composed of 10 state investigators from four different state agencies. Those agencies are the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Alabama Department of Public Safety, the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and the Department of Agriculture.
To report a Rural Crime or to tip call 1-855-75CRIME.
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