Case Update: Man accused of stealing chainsaws from business then selling them on Facebook

CASE UPDATE: Dylan Thomas Fulk, 21, was arrested on the warrant and booked in to the Greene County Jail around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 3. He was released the same day after posting $400 cash on a bond set at $4,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He was given a court date and is now scheduled to appear in Greene Superior Court on Monday, October 15, for his initial hearing. Previous story posted on Monday with details on this case is included below.

Dylan Fulk

---

Story posted on Monday, October 1, 2018:
There’s a warrant out for the arrest of a former employee of a business in Linton who allegedly stole equipment from the business then later posted the items for sale on Facebook.

Dylan T. Fulk, 21, of Linton, is wanted on a preliminary charge of theft where the value of the stolen property is between $750 and $50,000. It’s a Level 6 felony.

Fulk is accused of stealing two chainsaws back in the spring of 2017 when he was employed by the business. No longer employed there, he’s accused of recently posting the chainsaws for sale on Facebook.

This case has been under investigation by Officer Debbie McDonald of the Linton Police Department since Sunday, September 2, when Scott Landis made a report to the police department. Landis is the owner of Landis Equipment and Tool Rental in Linton, where Stihl chainsaws are sold and repaired.

Landis reported a Stihl chainsaw had been previously stolen from his business was now listed for sale on Facebook by Fulk, a former employee.

The chainsaw was posted by Fulk for sale for $250 in a Facebook sale group called “One man’s crap is another man’s treasure” as Stihl Model 291 with a 20” bar. The post said it had never been used.

The chainsaw was found to be missing in mid-May of 2017 and the serial number was reported as stolen to Stihl in early June.

When Officer McDonald checked for the post on Facebook, she also searched the site for other items Fulk had posted for sale and she located a second chainsaw. This one was posted by Fulk for sale for $200 in a sale group called “Greene County & Surrounding Area Online Yard Sales” as Stihl Model MS251C with an 18” bar. Landis Equipment had not yet realized this saw was also missing but they were able to confirm it was gone and they provided a serial number for it.

So, an arrangement was made through Facebook messages to purchase both chainsaws. McDonald said Fulk agreed to meet the buyer in a parking lot in Jasonville and said he would be driving a gray Chevy Colorado.

McDonald said when Fulk arrived, he told the buyer he brought gas so the saws could be started. He said one had been used to cut just one tree and the other had never been used. He said he used to work for a guy with a Stihl dealership who couldn’t pay him but told him he could have some stuff. When asked if it was Landis, Fulk allegedly said yes.

Officer McDonald notes the conversation during this transaction was audio recorded.

The officer’s next step in the investigation was to talk to Landis and another employee about trading equipment for hours worked. She reported Landis said he has always paid his employees and he provided a copy of Fulk’s pay stubs. The employee said he had worked there for nine years, had always gotten his pay check and had never been offered anything in exchange for hours worked.

McDonald made several attempts to contact Fulk and at one point he promised to come in to the police department. She said he didn’t show up but did call in and told a dispatcher to tell McDonald to call his attorney.

The officer’s findings were turned over to the prosecutor’s office and Chief Deputy Prosecutor Keven McIntosh filed a criminal case against Fulk last Wednesday, September 26.

The warrant for Fulk’s arrest was issued last Thursday, September 27.