Tony Randall Higgins
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
A Gadsden man was arrested last month on four charges related to theft and drugs following a citizen observing a theft in progress.
On January 9, an individual called the Sheriff’s Office, spoke with Sgt. Ward and made him aware of a possible vehicle theft in progress in Stewartville. He explained that a friend of his saw three individuals at the Stewartville Chevron with a wrecker towing a truck belonging to the victim, with an additional vehicle on the wrecker.
The victim told Ward that his friend was following the truck belonging to the victim, and he ended up at a residence in the Stewartville area where the wrecker stopped.
Ward responded and began processing the scene where the vehicle was seen and conducted inventory. He also ran the Vehicle Identification Number on the vehicle that was already on the wrecker, which came back revealing the vehicle had been stolen out of Homewood.
When conducting inventory of the truck, Ward found a small baggy of a crystal-like substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine.
The investigation culminated in the arrest of Tony Randall Higgins, 32 years old, on January 9 on charges of first-degree theft of property, first-degree receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance (meth), and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Chief Deputy Scott Hammond explained that the receiving stolen property charge stemmed from Higgins being in possession of the stolen vehicle on the wrecker, and the theft of property charge stemmed from him hooking the truck up to tow in Coosa County.
Higgins’ total bond for all four charges has been set at $37,500, and as of press time he remained in custody at the Coosa County Jail awaiting trial.
Warrants have been obtained for a second suspect involved in the case.
The stolen truck was returned to the owner, and the stolen vehicle on the wrecker was returned to the Homewood victim.
