Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jack Browning told WLBB Radio on Friday that the April 2023 case involving a stolen hydraulic dump trailer and stolen John Deere square hay baler which were located on property owned by Haralson County Commission Chairman Ronnie Ridley- is now considered closed, unless new evidence is brought forward.
Earlier this year, Haralson County deputies said a tracking device led them to a hydraulic dump trailer valued at $5,000.00 that had been stolen from Steadman Road. Investigators located the trailer on property at 1630 us highway 78 in Tallapoosa. Investigators also recovered a 2009 John Deere square hay baler stolen out of Heflin, Alabama and a vehicle that had the VIN removed.
Deputies say the stolen property was located near a building on property owned by Ridley that was used as a shop to repair vehicles for a business Ridley owns.
“I have no clue about how the items that were found on the property got there,” Ridley told WLBB Radio in April. “I own several properties… and I’d like to think I know what is going on at all of them… but I do not. I am not at each of the properties every single day.”
On Friday, District Attorney Browning said the GBI had concluded their investigation into this case.
“With respect to the stolen property case, the GBI concluded their investigation. They determined that there was insufficient evidence to seek charges in the case,” Browning said. “The GBI consulted with me about their findings and I agreed that there was not sufficient evidence. As such, the matter is considered closed, unless new evidence is brought forward.”
