Coffee, ATCO, Pearson authorities solve stolen fire equipment case

The case involving stolen items from a Coffee County fire station has been solved.

On July 15, 2019, deputies from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office were notified of several items taken from the Coffee County Fire Station 19. Coffee County detectives began working the case. The Pearson Police Department and the Atkinson County Sheriff’s Office were also investigating similar incidents. The Pearson Police Department received information in reference to items taken from their jurisdiction which could have also involved the theft from the Coffee Fire Department.

Detectives from all three agencies combined their information and leads and were able to locate numerous items that were stolen from Pearson and Coffee County.  As a result of the investigation, Douglas Allen Philips and Matthew Cory Smith were arrested for theft by receiving stolen property. The investigation is still ongoing and arrest warrants are still pending at this time.

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, Pearson Police Department and Atkinson County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the concerned citizens for their assistance.  This case is a prime example of information, even though it was thought to be small, proved pivotal in helping to recover all the items taken from the Coffee Fire Department.