ATV thief caught in the act

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Anderson County sheriff’s deputies have arrested a man caught in the act of stealing an ATV from a Powdersville store.

Anderson deputy arrived at Foothills Motorsports, 104 Halter Drive, Piedmont, in response to an alarm activation at approximately 7:41 a.m. Friday, June 28, an where he, the saw a male attempting to flee on an all-terrain vehicle. Shots were fired by the deputy as he attempted to stop the culprit.

At that point, the male eluded the deputy. No one was injured. Deputies set up a perimeter and the Sheriff’s Office Aviation, K9 and Bloodhoud Units responded. The Aviation Unit spotted the abandoned ATV and the dog teams began tracking at that location. According to reports, it wasn’t long before the male was located on Highway 153 by an assisting SLED agent. Ironically, the dogs tracked straight to the spot where the male was stopped. Evidence from the theft was also found on the ground where the dogs tracked.

The thief was identified as Jeffrey Michael Gilstrap, 29, of Pickens. He was arrested and transported to the Anderson County Detention Center and charged with Grand Larceny for the theft of the ATV and Possession of Burglary Tools.