Mayfield, Ky.—A McCracken Co. man faces charges of meth trafficking and theft in Graves Co. after an investigation involving several law enforcement agencies determined he was involved in thefts from area Kubota dealerships.
Matthew Rankin is currently being held in the McCracken Co. Jail and will be transported to the Graves Co. Jail in the near future.
During a joint drug investigation involving Methamphetamine trafficking, McCracken and Graves County Sheriff’s Departments stopped a vehicle at Lebanon Church Road and Old Hwy 45 South (just north of the Graves County Line) late Thursday evening.
The suspect Matthew Rankin of McCracken County was under investigation for Methamphetamine trafficking as well as being a suspect in thefts reported at First Choice Farm and Lawn which is a Kubota dealership located on Hwy 45 North of Mayfield. On April 24, at around 7 AM, two Lexmark ZTR mowers valued at approximately $24,000 dollars were stolen from this business.
After the traffic stop, an approx 1/2 Ounce of crystal Methamphetamine was located in Rankin’s vehicle.
Both agencies then executed a search warrant at Rankin’s home which is located on Old Lovelaceville Road in McCracken County about one mile east of the Lovelaceville community.
During a search of the residence and surrounding area, deputies recovered one of the new Lexmark mowers that had been stolen during the April 24 theft at the Kubota dealership north of Mayfield. Also found hidden in a wooded area was a stolen Caterpillar Skidsteer that had been reported stolen from another McCracken County location. A firearm and other drug related items were also seized.
A trailer that was used in the mower thefts was seized as well as Rankin’s pickup that was used in the thefts.
On Friday, Graves Sheriff’s deputies travelled to Portland Tennessee which is located about 40 min northeast of Nashville Tennessee, and met with Portland Tenn Police. They assisted Graves Sheriff’s Deputies in the ongoing investigation in an attempt to locate the second stolen Lexmark mower. They did in fact locate the stolen mower from an individual that had purchased it from Rankin. The mower was seized and brought back to Graves County late Friday evening.
Charges are pending against Rankin for the thefts from the Kubota dealership. Theft of Property Over $10,000, as well as Criminal Mischief. Rankin knocked down a fence to gain entry onto the property to steal the equipment.
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