TIFTON, Ga. (WALB) —Tifton Police Department and Tift County Sheriff’s Office arrested five people and are searching for a sixth suspect in connection with multiple golf cart and lawn equipment thefts following a months-long investigation.

The agencies announced the arrests on Tuesday in a joint press release. Detectives charged six individuals with a total of 64 counts related to thefts that occurred in both city and county limits.

You can view the full incident report below

The arrests

Hovell Stevenson faces 18 counts of theft by taking and four counts of theft by receiving.

Jamarcus Brinkley faces 15 counts of theft by taking.

Christopher Baker faces 21 counts of theft by taking, two counts of entering an auto, and one count of burglary in the second degree.

Roman Walker faces one count of theft by receiving.

Darryl Batts faces one count of theft by receiving.

Suspect at large

James Cornelius Rutledge, 45, faces one count of theft by taking. Rutledge is not in custody. There is an active warrant for his arrest.

Detectives said they believe the six individuals were acting together.

The investigation

Police reports show golf cart thefts began appearing in Tifton as early as January 2026. Victims reported stolen golf carts from residential driveways and carports, with some thefts captured on security cameras.

In one incident on May 1, a victim reported a red 2019 THT Freedom golf cart valued at $7,000 was stolen at 2:51 a.m. Ring doorbell footage showed a male wearing dark clothing pushing the golf cart toward the roadway, followed by a dark pickup truck heading eastbound.

Another theft on April 25 showed a pickup truck driving through a neighborhood around 3:18 a.m., appearing to scout houses. Video showed an offender approaching a gray EZ GO Freedom golf cart valued at $11,900 in a carport and attempting to move it multiple times before successfully stealing it.

Additional reports documented thefts of golf carts ranging in value from $4,450 to $11,900. Victims described stolen carts as various colors, including tan, silver, red, blue, black, and beige.

How they solved it

Detectives used independent surveillance to identify the alleged parties involved in the thefts. So far, they have recovered 14 stolen items.

“This successful operation is a testament to the seamless cooperation between our City and County investigators,” said Sheriff Gene Scarbrough. “By combining our resources and utilizing shared intelligence, we were able to quickly put a stop to these crimes and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.”

“Our investigators did an outstanding job putting this case together and following the leads needed to identify and arrest those responsible,” said Tifton Police Chief Steve Hyman.

Safety tips

Tifton Police Department and Tift County Sheriff’s Office reminded residents to secure their golf carts, vehicles, lawn equipment, trailers, and other valuable property.

The agencies offered these tips to reduce the risk of theft:

• Remove keys and lock equipment when not in use
• Store property in a locked garage, shed, or secure area whenever possible
• Consider installing GPS or tracking devices on valuable items
• Use security cameras and motion lighting to help deter thieves

The departments urged residents to report suspicious activity immediately.

“Your call could help prevent a crime or help us to solve one,” Hyman said.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Tifton Police Department and Tift County Sheriff’s Office said they will continue to work together to solve these crimes.

To anonymously report crimes to the Tifton Police Department, contact the tip411 alert system by texting the keyword TIFTONPD (space) to 847411, or by downloading the TPD app.

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