LeFlore County Farmers Offer Reward In Vandalism Case

Two LeFlore County farmers are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for causing more than $300,000 in damage to their farm equipment late Sunday.

Sheriff Rob Seale told KFSM, the CBS affiliate in Fort Smith, someone tried to steal a brand new John Deere combine owned by Tommy Robertson Sunday night.

Seale says the thief was trying to drive away with the combine when it hit farming equipment owned by Robertson's next door neighbor, Othel Gamble.

The combine damaged a spray rig and tractor before crashing into Robertson's barn door.

"It came to the field yesterday," said Tommy Robertson. "It's never been run in the field. It's brand spanking new. It costs close to a half a million dollars."

Sheriff Seale said nothing was stolen from the barn.

"We've dusted both the tractors and everything that they've been on for fingerprints," said Sheriff Seale. "We took some pictures of tire tracks from the vehicle that they used down here and some footprints so we can use those later on in our investigation."

The farmers and the sheriff said a number of farms in the Spiro area have had problems with thefts and vandalism.

Due to the amount of damage caused in this particular incident, Sheriff Seale said the vandals will face harsh penalties including prison time.

Anyone with information should call the LeFlore County Sheriff's Office at 918-647-2317.