Man Wanted for Stealing Strechers from Funeral Homes

Police are looking for a Florida man accused of stealing a mortuary stretcher from an Acworth and Dallas funeral home.

Michael Christopher Johnson, 56, is accused of stealing a stretcher from Georgia Funeral Care at 4761 South Main Street in Acworth on Monday, May 6, between midnight and 3 a.m., police say.

Acworth police responded to the scene after a report of theft was made on May 8. Upon arrival, officers observed damage to a vehicle from which the stretcher had been stolen.

The case was then turned over to the Acworth Criminal Investigations Division. During the investigation, detectives with the division were informed by another agency of a similar theft in Dallas, Acworth police officials said.

According to Johnson’s outstanding warrant, Dallas police had similar incidents on the same night and identified Johnson attempting to break into a vehicle at a funeral home in their jurisdiction.

Both police departments identified the accused vehicle, a silver Chrysler Town & Country with a Florida dealer tag of PM759X, at the scene of the crime using surveillance footage and Flock safety cameras.

Johnson’s cellphone location data also shows that he was near the Acworth funeral home at the time of damage, said officials.

He reportedly tried to later sell a stretcher to another funeral home, according to officials.

Johnson has an outstanding warrant for his arrest from Acworth for entering an automobile with intent to commit theft, theft, criminal trespassing and damage to property.

The Acworth Criminal Investigations Division continues to investigate this case. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Acworth Police Department at 770-974-1232.