Douglas Man Arrested for Stealing Six Bleachers from Local Park

Photo byCCSO

A 61-year-old man from Douglas was recently arrested for stealing six bleachers from United Park in Douglas. Records indicate that the suspect has previous convictions in Coffee County for burglary and theft by taking.

According to an incident report obtained from the Douglas Police Department, an officer was dispatched to United Park, located on Grady Avenue, in response to a theft. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with a man who was on call for the city that day. The man had driven through the area to check on the park and initially observed that a bleacher was still in place. However, a few hours later, he received a call from someone reporting that a black and orange Ram pickup truck was at the park loading the bleachers. When he returned to the park, the pickup truck was gone.

The caller also reported that six bleachers, each valued at $700, were missing.

The man contacted his supervisor to inquire if anyone was authorized to pick up the bleachers and was informed that no such arrangement had been made. The officer then issued a BOLO (Be On the Look Out) for the black and orange Ram. Shortly thereafter, the officer received information from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office that the truck was registered to Tommy Lee Coates, a 61-year-old man from Douglas, who was known for "hauling junk" and resided on Spring Oak Street.

Deputies from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) assisted in locating Coates at a convenience store on Highway 221 North. While deputies spoke with Coates, other officers went to his residence and recovered the bleachers.

Coates claimed that “a man named Michael” had told him he could have the bleachers, so he and a few others went to retrieve them.

The officer then contacted the individual who had initially reported the missing bleachers to verify Coates' claim. The individual confirmed that Coates’ story was false.

Coates was detained and placed in the back of the officer’s patrol vehicle. The officer then contacted the complainant to arrange for the recovery of the bleachers and waited until city workers arrived to retrieve them.

During the investigation, the officer spoke with another individual who said Coates had asked him if he wanted to make some money by helping to pick up the bleachers. The man, who works for Coates, said he did not suspect any wrongdoing.

Another person who helped Coates pick up the bleachers stated that he was also asked to assist but was unaware that Coates was stealing the bleachers.

A third individual, who works for Coates, mentioned that they “pick up junk every day” and did not realize they were not supposed to take the bleachers. He also noted that they had already collected the fence and the poles.

A woman at the scene asked the officer if she could speak with Coates. The officer permitted her to talk to him through the back window of the patrol car. She advised Coates to “leave people’s stuff alone” and stated that she had not exited her vehicle but merely "pulled up and looked."

According to the report, city workers recovered all the bleachers, but two of them had been cut in half. With each bleacher valued at $700, the total value of the six bleachers was $4,200. Additionally, the cost to replace the two damaged bleachers would be $1,400.

Coates' booking information also reveals three probation violations. The Georgia Department of Corrections website shows that Coates was incarcerated from 2009 to 2013 on convictions for theft by taking and burglary. Another profile indicates that a person identified as Tommy L. Coates spent more than nine years in prison between 1985 and 1995 for convictions in Coffee County and Ware County, including armed robbery, burglary, attempted armed robbery, and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Although the date of birth is incorrect by ten years and no photo is provided, “Tommy Lee Coates” is listed under a known alias on this profile.

In this case, Coates was charged with theft by taking and criminal damage to property in the second degree. As of Thursday afternoon, he remains in custody.

Attributions: Douglas Police Department