Staff report
Two Salisbury men have been charged by Iredell County Sheriff’s deputies with stealing feed from the Purina Feeds Plant on U.S. 70.
Thomas Lee Cordle, of 2475 Goodnight Road, and William Michael Strange, of 3075 Goodnight Road, are charged with one felony count of larceny apiece. They were placed in the Iredell County Jail with bond set at $10,000.
More suspects may also be charged.
The men were caught in a stakeout at the business around 1 a.m. Tuesday, according to a press release from Iredell Sheriff Phil Redmond.
As a result of ongoing thefts at the business, Lt. David Prevette and Sgt. Tim Byrd of the Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team were working undercover surveillance at plant.
They observed a 1996 blue-and-white Ford F-250 extended cab pickup truck pulling a utility trailer enter the Purina Land of Lakes property.
Within a few minutes, the vehicle left the plant with four pallets of feed on the trailer.
A few minutes later, deputies stopped the pickup near Knox Farm Road.
According to the press release, the plant had reported thefts of feed over the past several weeks.
The investigation is continuing. According to the press release, there are several other suspects.