It all began to unravel when a trailer full of items sustained a flat tire and was pulled over on the side of Jamestown Road in the Desha area of Independence County.
A man, who lives on Jamestown Road, was driving by and saw an item on the trailer that he believed had been stolen from his property. A deputy had also been called to the scene, checking out a complaint that the trailer was stolen.
During that process, the man who had left the trailer there to go and have the flat tire repaired, identified by authorities in a press release as Zachary Anderson (pictured), 38, had come back to the scene.
Anderson told authorities it was his trailer and his property on the trailer. The investigation soon proved that was not the case, and eventually, Anderson confessed his actions to the police, the report noted.
Independence County Chief Deputy Aaron Moody said Anderson cooperated with authorities by pointing out each residence where an item had been stolen.
Moody noted that Anderson had apparently taken property from seven locations in the Desha area and committed a commercial burglary in Batesville. Moody said the “flat tire” was the beginning of Anderson’s downfall.
The chief deputy said Anderson is facing several charges including: commercial burglary; three counts of felony theft of property; four counts of misdemeanor theft of property; four counts of felony breaking or entering; and two counts of misdemeanor criminal trespass.
The stolen property is being returned to its owners, Moody said, and he noted that Anderson was living in Desha at the time of the thefts.
Moody said he is asking that Anderson be tried as a habitual offender, having previously been convicted of four or more felonies.
Image via Independence County Sheriff’s Department
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