ASHEBORO N.C. – A man who was already on house arrest for felony larceny charges was arrested last week after deputies say they stopped him on a stolen excavator which he was operating under the influence.
On September 14, 2022, at approximately 3:00 am, a Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Deputy on US Hwy 220 S near Seagrove conducted a traffic stop on a Kubota excavator traveling north bound from the Seagrove area.
The male driver, whom the Sheriff’s Office identified as Tony Eugene Hiatt, was not provide information that he owned the excavator and according to a press release he appeared to be under the influence.
An additional deputy responded and determined the excavator was mostly likely taken from D B M
Construction. Later in the day, the owner of D B M Construction confirmed the excavator was stolen and it
was returned to its owner.
NC State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) also responded and transported Hiatt to perform a blood draw. Following the results, NCSHP charged Hiatt with Driving While Impaired (DWI). Hiatt was released on bond by the magistrate.
Hiatt was also on electronic house arrest at the time of this incident from charges felony larceny and
felony possession of stolen goods dating back to March of this year. On September 15th, 2022, Hiatt was arrested by Electronic House Arrest Officers and transported to Randolph Jail where he was served an order for arrest for failure to appear on felony. The magistrate also found probable cause for a Felony Violation of EHA. His bond was set back to the original bond of $10,000 secured with EHA and a court date set for September 20, 2022, in Randolph County District Court.
Following the investigation into the September 14th, 2022, incident involving the excavator, charges were also sought against Hiatt for Felony Larceny and Felony Possession of Stolen Goods in which the magistrate found probable cause to issue. Hiatt, already confined, was served with the additional charges and was issued an additional $10,000 secured bond; his first appearance for those charges was set for September 21, 2022, in Randolph County District Court.
Tony Eugene Hiatt
- Electronic House Arrest Violation
- Felony Larceny
- Felony Possession of Stolen Goods
$10,000 secured bond + $10,000 secured with EHA