Man charged with stealing thousands of dollars worth of equipment at construction site
COOPER COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Barton County man has been charged after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment in Cooper County.
John William Couzens, 56, of Lamar, was charged Monday with stealing more than $750. He is being held at the Cass County Jail and a $5,000 bond was. A court date has not been set.
On May 29, Cooper County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a construction site under the Missouri River Bridge for a report of stolen equipment, according to the probable cause statement.
Deputies learned two shipping containers were broken into and its locks were cut. Several power tools –totaling $5,514 – were taken from the containers, the statement says.
The probable cause statement also states a John Deer Gater – worth $5,000 – and a flatbed trailer –worth $8,500 – were stolen, the statement says.
Video footage at the site allegedly shows a man backing a flatbed truck up to the UTV and driving off. The trailer was equipped with a tracking device. The UTV and the flatbed trailer were recovered in Cass County and Couzens was eventually arrested, according to the statement. Jail records indicate Couzens was booked into the jail on May 30.
Couzens is also charged in another case in Barton County with possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest. A preliminary hearing in that case is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15.
