Alabama man arrested for taking stolen property in exchange for meth

DeKalb County authorities have charged an Alabama man who they say swapped methamphetamine for a stolen Bobcat loader, a Chevrolet truck and a lawn mower.

Johnny Dewayne Croley, 36, of the Whiton community, is suspected of taking about $80,000 worth of property stolen in the area and as far as Washington state, Sheriff Jimmy Harris in a news release.

Investigators found the property in a search of Croley’s property, which is off County Road 3, Harris said. Croley was charged with three counts of receiving stolen property and receiving stolen property 2nd degree and is currently in the county jail on a $87,500 bond.

This was Croley’s second theft-related arrest this year. He was free on bond from a February charge of receiving stolen property, Harris said.

It appears the majority of the stolen vehicles and power tools were exchanged at truck stops, Harris said. The Bobcat, the truck and some other stolen property came from Jackson County, Harris said. Croley also had 187 new cross ties stolen from Norfolk Southern Railway and a large winch for a truck that was reported stolen from Washington, he said.