On September 14, 2022, at approximately 3:00 am, a Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Deputy traveling south on US Hwy 220 S near Seagrove conducted a traffic stop on a Kubota excavator traveling north bound from the Seagrove area. The male driver, identified as Tony Eugene Hiatt, was detained for investigation. He could not provide information relative to the ownership or lawful possession of the excavator and he appeared to be under the influence. An additional deputy responded and determined the excavator was mostly likely taken from D B M Construction. However, at the time, Deputies were unable to contact anyone from the company. The excavator was seized and towed pending investigation. NC State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) also responded and transported Hiatt to perform a blood draw. Following the results, NCSHP charged Hiatt with Driving While Impaired (DWI). Hiatt was released on bond by the magistrate.
Later in the day, the owner of D B M Construction confirmed the excavator was stolen and it was returned to the rightful owner.
Hiatt was also on electronic house arrest at the time of this incident, therefore the investigating deputy notified Electronic House Arrest (EHA) Officers.
On September 15, 2022, Hiatt was arrested by EHA Officers and transported to the Randolph County Detention Center where he was served an order for arrest for failure to appear on felony. The magistrate also found probable cause for a Felony Violation of EHA. His bond was set back to the original bond of $10,000 secured with EHA and a court date set for September 20, 2022, in Randolph County District Court.
He was originally placed on EHA on March 23, 2022, for the charges of felony larceny and felony possession of stolen goods; violated terms on April 29, 2022, and placed back on EHA on May 20, 2022.
Following the investigation into the September 14, 2022, incident involving the excavator, charges were also sought against Hiatt for Felony Larceny and Felony Possession of Stolen Goods in which the magistrate found probable cause to issue. Hiatt, already confined, was served with the additional charges and was issued an additional $10,000 secured bond; his first appearance for those charges was set for September 21, 2022, in Randolph County District Court.
Defendant:
Tony Eugene Hiatt
Age: 36