CrimeStoppers tipster leads police to suspect in theft

By DEBORAH BUCKHALTER
Floridan Staff Writer

A CrimeStoppers tipster helped lead police to the 20-year-old Greenwood man who is suspected of stealing a golf cart from the MERE complex and of other offenses, according to Marianna Police Chief Hayes Baggett.
Christopher Ray Davis, of 6183 Fort Road, has been arrested on three charges of grand theft and three counts of burglary in the case, according to a press release from the Marianna Police Department. He was booked into the Jackson County jail Monday night.
Baggett said a CrimeStoppers tip led authorities to the golf cart and to Davis as a suspect.
In addition to the golf cart theft, Davis is also accused of twice taking a Gator utility vehicle out of a MERE storage building, and abandoning it in the woods after a couple of joy rides.
According to the MPD, Davis is suspected of stealing an E-Z Go golf cart that had been loaned to the city recreation department. Police say he drove the cart to Cedar Pond Road near Bascom and used it to ride in the woods. It has been recovered and returned to the owner.
The cart was found in a dried-up lake bed, according to Baggett, and appeared to be in pretty good condition. “There was one ding on the bumper, but I think that was about it,” Baggett said. “It was driveable and that looked to be the only damage. We received reports that the plan was to ride it, have fun with it, and then destroy it, so I’m glad we got it back. Credit goes to Bill (Bryant, MPD Capt.), CrimeStoppers and the person who called, and to the (Jackson County) sheriff’s office for assisting us in this case.”
Once, police allege, Davis also took four six-gallon cans full of gasoline from the complex.
He was denied bail and remained in jail as of early Tuesday afternoon.