Lincoln Parish deputies arrested a Choudrant man Monday morning after the investigation of a theft.
Steven Tipton, 55, was arrested October 14 on numerous charges after a victim reported the theft of a propane heater and tank from his property.
The victim said on October 10 or 11, a man who identified himself as a Mr. Tipton came to his residence attempting to sell a wood splitter. The victim said the wood splitter was in new condition and he found it strange Tipton was selling it for only $300. The victim assumed it was stolen and did not purchase it.
On the morning of October 14, the victim saw on a surveillance camera the same man who identified himself as Tipton enter his property on a bicycle at about 5:40 a.m. The camera showed Tipton stole the propane heater and tank valued at approximately $200.
Deputies knew Steven Tipton resided nearby and showed a photo of him to the victim who identified him as the thief. Two warrants for Tipton were located charging him with failure to appear in Third District Court for resisting an officer and flight from an officer.
Tipton was located at a Campbell Road residence and placed under arrest. When asked about the stolen items, he denied taking them. A bicycle was found at the location matched the one seen in the photographs. A resident said the bicycle was Tipton’s and that he had ridden it there.
While deputies were investigating at the arrest scene, another victim approached them reporting a game camera had been stolen from his nearby property and that he had seen bicycle tracks at the scene. The incident occurred just five minutes prior to Tipton being seen on the first victim’s camera.
Tipton was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for two counts of criminal trespass, theft, simple criminal damage to property, and the two warrants. His bail amount was not available at publication time.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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