Two Summit County men were arrested Wednesday after Geauga County Sheriff’s Office detectives conducted an undercover sting operation into stolen construction equipment being sold in Geauga County.
Detectives were monitoring Craigslist and came across a listing for equipment they suspected might have been stolen, said Lt. John Hiscox, public information officer for the sheriff’s office.
A call was placed to the sellers and a buy set up in Geauga County, Hiscox said.
During the operation, Randolph Jack, of Sagamore Hills, attempted to sell a stolen Caterpillar skid steer to undercover detectives. It was determined the equipment was stolen from the City of Radford, Va., the lieutenant said.
Jack was arrested for receiving stolen property. He also had methamphetamine inside his vehicle and the trailer that was used to haul the equipment was stolen as well.
Joseph Bennett, of Monroe Falls, assisted Jack and was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Subsequent to their arrest, detectives also learned that a boat stolen from the intersection of state routes 44 and 87 in Newbury Township was located in Cuyahoga Falls. A search warrant was executed and the owners of the boat were able to recover their property, Hiscox said.
Agents with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation later executed a search warrant at Jack’s home in Sagamore Hills. Multiple items used to make methamphetamine were located in the home and deemed a hazard, Hiscox said.
Detectives from the sheriff’s office’s Clandestine Lab Response Team along with BCI Agents diffused the lab and all hazardous chemicals.
Bennett was arraigned in Chardon Municipal Court on June 4. Bond was set at 10 percent cash of $5,000 or surety.
Jack is scheduled to be arraigned on June 5.