Auburn, Ill., man arrested after six-week investigation into theft from farm implement dealer in Pike County

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — A six-week criminal investigation of the theft of equipment from a local farm implement dealer resulted in the Nov. 25 arrest of an Auburn, Ill., man who had committed other crimes in three other states.

The Pike County Sheriff’s Department was contacted Oct. 11 about the theft of multiple zero-turn lawn mowers. 

An investigation was led by Chief Deputy Zack Orr, who reviewed surveillance videos, interviewed witnesses, executed search warrants, retrieved data and followed up with other law enforcement agencies. His work led to the apprehension in Callaway County, Missouri of 37-year-old Patrick Butler of Auburn.

Butler is being held on a Pike County, Ill., arrest warrant for felony theft. He is on mandatory supervised release from the Illinois Department of Corrections.   

During his arrest in Callaway County, Butler was found to be in possession of a stolen camper, stolen truck, burglary tools and methamphetamine. Butler also was charged in Callaway County for those offenses.  

Pike County Sheriff David Greenwood said Orr’s work not only solved the crime in Pike County but numerous other crimes throughout Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin.