Stolen tractor leads to police chase arrest; $50,000 cash bond set for suspect

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By Ray King

A Jefferson County man who is currently out of jail on bond on a theft of property allegation was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly stole a tractor from a storage building on NCTR Road, crashed through several gates, and fled from police trying to stop him.

During a court hearing Friday, Deputy Prosecutor Jill Reed said prosecutors will be filing paperwork to revoke Mark Smothers’ bond on the theft allegation because of the Wednesday incident.

Sheriff’s Investigator Michael Musgrove reported that the owner of the tractor called 911 after receiving an alert on his phone that someone was trying to get into his building and received a video of the man, later identified as Smothers.

Reed then questioned Musgrove about what deputies were told.

Reed said the incident occurred on NCTR Road and Redfield Police were asked to assist. Detective Teri Patterson and Police Chief Steve McFatridge went to the area and saw a man driving an orange tractor down the road and Patterson attempted to stop it by activating the emergency lights on her vehicle without success. McFatridge put his police car in the middle of the road but Smothers drove directly at it and then crashed through a gate and drove into the woods.

Reed said McFatridge got tangled up in the grass and was dragged to the ground when the bucket of the tractor swung toward him, leading to McFatridge firing a shot at Smothers.

Jefferson County District Judge Kim Bridgforth set a $50,000 cash-only bond for Smothers after ruling prosecutors have probable cause to charge him with breaking or entering, theft of property, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, fleeing from an officer, and two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer.

Reed said damage estimates so far are nearly $7,000 and that does not include damage to the tractor itself.