JONESBORO, Ark. — A man is accused of selling a tractor worth more than $7,000 after its owner left it at a Jonesboro property while helping him move barrels, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Kenneth Bryan Metcalf faces a felony theft allegation in the case. His bond was set at $10,000 cash or surety Sept. 25.
The owner told police he brought the tractor to the property June 16 to help Metcalf move barrels. When the work could not be finished that day, he left the tractor there and told Metcalf he would return, the affidavit states.
Around Aug. 14, the owner drove past the property and noticed the tractor was missing. When confronted, Metcalf said it had likely been stolen, according to the affidavit.
The owner offered a reward for information. Someone then reported that Metcalf had sold the tractor to a buyer with property in Baxter County, where sheriff’s deputies located it, the affidavit states. Jonesboro police took a report Sept. 3.
During a follow-up phone interview, Metcalf acknowledged discussing the tractor with the buyer but denied selling it. He told police he moved it outside the city limits because Jonesboro Code Enforcement was threatening to cite him for having it on his property, according to the affidavit.
Investigators contacted the assigned code enforcement officer, who confirmed an open case involving Metcalf’s property but said he had never spoken with Metcalf about a tractor, the affidavit states.
The buyer told investigators he purchased the tractor from Metcalf and instructed him to take it to a property in Craighead County and load it onto a trailer. The owner of that property told police Metcalf provided a bill of sale after the buyer requested one, according to the affidavit.
Metcalf’s next court appearance is listed for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 23 at the Craighead County Courthouse in Jonesboro.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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