Troy Guidry, 41, of Juliette, and 32-year-old Jon Adam Wantz, of Warner Robins, were charged with theft by taking, criminal trespass, burglary, conspiracy to commit a crime, and violation of the oath of office in the case, according to Bibb County jail records.
Both men appeared in Bibb County Magistrate Court on Friday wearing jail jumpsuits, but no handcuffs or shackles. Neither man had a lawyer.
Guidry told the judge he didn’t understand why he’d been charged with burglary or conspiracy to commit a crime. He and Wantz signed papers waiving their rights to commitment hearings, proceedings when officers present testimony about why they charged someone with a crime.
Guidry, an officer of three years, was granted a $16,150 bail bond. Wantz, an officer of six years, also was granted bond of $16,150.
As a condition of their bail, neither officer is allowed to possess a gun or other dangerous weapons. They’re also barred from going to the Mr. Rooter on Roff Avenue in Macon, where they allegedly stole the tractor.
Macon police did not release information Friday on whether the officers had been put on administrative leave.
An internal affairs investigation was begun as soon as police learned of the officers’ involvement in the incident, said police spokeswoman Jami Gaudet.
On Thursday, Heath Vickers, owner of the plumbing business, said he and his employees reported to work about 7:30 a.m. and noticed some outdoor lights had been broken.
Not noticing anything missing, an employee soon checked the GPS locations for the business equipment and saw that a $25,000 tractor was in Juliette. The tractor, used to dig ditches for water and sewer lines, had been stolen.
Macon police and Monroe County deputies arrested Guidry and recovered the tractor from the yard behind Guidry’s home on Ga. 87 on Thursday morning. Wantz was arrested later Thursday, according to jail records.
Macon Police Chief Mike Burns issued a statement Thursday saying the officers’ actions won’t be tolerated.
“An incident like this is a black eye on all law enforcement officers who perform their sworn duties with dignity and integrity, and risk their lives daily on the job,” Burns’ statement said. “This is a sad day for the MPD, but we will do our best to continue to protect the citizens of Macon and earn their trust.” Source-Macon Telegraph