Several people have been arrested in connection with last month’s theft of a hot air balloon from a home near Lawrenceville and the thefts of several other items.
The investigation led police to several stolen vehicles and an alleged “chop shop” operating in Gwinnett County.
According to Gwinnett police Cpl. Edwin Ritter, a trailer containing the balloon was stolen on July 5 from a home on Collins Hill Road.
The trailer and balloon, which is valued at $70,000, were found the next day on a farm on Stanley Road near Dacula, but several pieces of equipment were missing from the trailer.
Ritter said a tip led investigators to the Dacula home of Susan Owen.
“Detectives searched the location and found parts of a lock that possibly belonged to the stolen trailer,” Ritter said. Officers also found small amounts of methamphetamine and marijuana, and obtained warrants for the arrest of Owen, 32, who remains at large.
“A second tip led detectives to suspect Amber Spinks, 24, and her father, Richard Spinks, 46. The two are suspected of stealing the trailer containing the balloon. Amber Spinks has been arrested and charged with two counts of theft by receiving. Her father, who is still at large, is facing similar charges.
A third suspect in the balloon theft, Jason Gordon, 33, was arrested in Barrow County and charged with two counts of theft by receiving.
Police later searched a location on Fence Road near Dacula and found a stolen Chevrolet Trailblazer, two stolen vehicle tags and items from a commercial burglary, as well as “evidence that a chop shop was being operated on the property,” Ritter said.
“Detectives determined that Dustin Martin, 23, Brandon Steedley, 27, and Jessica Baker, 25, were responsible for the chop shop,” Ritter said. Steedley was later arrested in Barrow County.
“On July 21, officers located Martin and Baker at the Sun Suites hotel on Steve Reynolds Boulevard,” Ritter said. “When Martin realized that officers were there to arrest him, he jumped from the third-story window of his room.”
Martin was apprehended by a K-9 officer who was waiting below.
Ritter said Baker did not attempt to flee and was taken into custody without incident.
Martin, who Ritter said “had seven varieties of illegal drugs on his person when arrested,” was charged with operating a chop shop, theft by receiving a motor vehicle, two counts of receiving stolen property and seven drug counts. Baker was charged with conspiracy to operate a chop shop and possession of meth.
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