Cortland police makes two more arrests in $50K equipment theft investigation

(Photo Source: Kevin L. Smith/The Cortland Voice).

The City of Cortland Police Department recently made two more arrests in connection to the previously reported $50,000 equipment and tools theft, according to a report.

Jeremy J. Rice, 45, and Samantha M. Townsend, 25, were arrested this past Thursday for their involvement in stealing $50,000 worth of tools and equipment. Nicholas G. Stone and Christopher C. Bush, also involved in the incident, was arrested earlier this month.

The arrests stemmed from an investigation that took place on Jan. 7. City police received a complaint that a vehicle-enclosed utility trailer was stolen from a job site in the Riverside Plaza on Clinton Avenue.

According to the report, the trailer was located south of Pipeline Road in Cortland County. Contents of the trailer, which included construction tools and equipment, were stolen out of the trailer.

Following the execution of several search warrants, the majority of the stolen property – which was valued at $50,000 – was recovered, noted in a previous report.

Townsend and Rice were arrested and charged with second-degree grand larceny (a Class-C Felony), fourth-degree conspiracy (a Class-E Felony) and second-degree criminal possession of stolen property (a Class-C Felony). Rice also had an additional charge of tampering with evidence.

According to the report, all suspects from this investigation have been arrested, but the investigation itself is still ongoing.