Titus County Deputies Make Arrest In Priefert Theft

From Titus County Sheriff’s Office

During October of 2019, Titus County Sheriff’s Deputies were summoned to Priefert Manufacturing Plant on the 2600-block of South Jefferson in Mount Pleasant, regarding numerous thefts from the facility’s scrap metal department. It was reported at that time, that over several nights, unknown suspects trespassed onto the property where they stole a significant number of aluminum radiators.

An investigation commenced into whoever was responsible for the thefts of the valuable scrap metal and investigators coordinated with company officials to devise a method of tracking some of the remaining materials back to the owner, should the thefts continue. They discovered a new robbery at the location on Friday, December 13, which would ultimately not bode well for the culprits of the theft when they stole more scrap items and other items of value.

On Monday, December 16, 2019, the collaborative effort paid off when a local cooperating scrap yard provided a name and address for a seller who had sold the scrap yard material that could solidly link to the victim. The scrapyard notified the Sheriff’s Office when one of the suspects returned with another load of suspected stolen goods.

Sheriff’s Office investigators were able to develop probable cause to show that Courtland Marcell Bradford, 25, of Omaha, was responsible for numerous thefts.

Deputies arrested Bradford for two separate State Jail Felonies for the offense of “Theft of Copper, Bronze, Brass, and Aluminum.” Officers also charged Bradford for a Class B Misdemeanor theft of property, other than scrap materials. In Texas, theft of any amount of those materials constitutes a felony offense.

Deputies booked Courtland Bradford into the Titus County Jail, where he awaits arraignment by a magistrate for the offenses. Titus County Sheriff’s Office continues an investigation to identify each of Bradford’s accomplices and more arrests are expected.