Last weekend, a building used by the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County in the 1400 block of E. Main Street was burglarized. Thieves cut a padlock on a rear door, entered undetected and made off with 14 chainsaws that the nonprofit uses for wildfire mitigation efforts.
Grass Valley Detectives worked the case and were able to identify suspects. On Tuesday, detectives were surveilling an apartment in the 100 block of Dorsey Drive in relation to the thefts. They observed multiple hand-to-hand drug transactions occur outside the involved apartment.
That afternoon, detectives served a search warrant on the apartment and located 4 of the stolen chainsaws hidden in a closet. The serial numbers had been filed off, but the saws still had “Fire Safe Council” stickers affixed. They also recovered property that was stolen recently from tree trimming trucks that were parked at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. Illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia were also located in the apartment.
Two (2) individuals were taken into custody for possession of the stolen chainsaws as well as drug charges.
- Joshua Hudson – 30 yrs old
- Jonathan Kimpson – 34 years old
o Possession of stolen property (chainsaws) and altering serial numbers
o Multiple drug charges including possession of Fentanyl and Methamphetamine for sale o Possession of illegal weapons including metal knuckles and a cane sword
o Placer County warrants
Two (2) other individuals were arrested for drug related charges.
– Jennifer Blanchard – 33 years old – possession of drugs for sale and possession of paraphernalia
– Natasha Wagner – 29 years old – possession of Fentanyl and a Placer County warrant
Detectives believe the unrecovered chainsaws were quickly sold over the last couple days. The investigation is ongoing to track them down and return them to the Fire Safe Council before fire season is upon us. Any information that would help us recover these saws would be appreciated. Information can be shared by calling the GVPD Detective Unit at (530) 477-3175. Tips (anonymous if desired) can be left on our website portal at: https://www.cityofgrassvalley.com/pod/tips-alerts