Special Rangers arrest suspect in saddle, equipment theft case

Stolen property valued at more than $20,000

FORT WORTH, Texas, January 29, 2008—With the help of local authorities, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Rangers John Bradshaw and Troy McKinney arrested Joshua D. Jones, 23, of Sherman, last week in connection with the theft of saddles and miscellaneous equipment in Grayson and Bowie counties.

Nine saddles have been recovered so far and four more are expected. The suspect also allegedly stole a camcorder, chainsaw, generators and other equipment, Bradshaw said.

The stolen saddles were primarily sold at pawn shops and horse sales. A saddle shop that had purchased saddles from Jones provided Bradshaw with a copy of his driver's license. One of the horse sale facilities was able to provide two license plate numbers corresponding to the two different cars Jones had driven when taking saddles to the horse sale.

When Bradshaw and McKinney located Jones, he had one of the stolen saddles in the trunk of his car, along with paperwork from pawn shops and horse sales. They arrested him on a Bowie County warrant.

Jones had one year left on his parole out of Arkansas, where he had been convicted of theft and forgery.

Bradshaw said the total value of stolen property from Bowie and Grayson counties is expected to be between $23,000 and $24,000.

TSCRA currently has 28 special rangers stationed strategically throughout Texas and Oklahoma who have in-depth knowledge of the cattle industry and are trained in all facets of law enforcement. All are commissioned as Special Rangers by the Texas Department of Public Safety and/or the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a 130-year-old trade organization whose 15,000 members manage approximately 3.7 million cattle on 96.5 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma. TSCRA provides law enforcement services, livestock inspection, legislative and regulatory advocacy and education opportunities for its members.

TSCRA–04–2008