When it comes to stray livestock there is no such thing as “finders, keepers.”

Col. Mike Grimes, head of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture’s Investigative Services division is reminding Oklahomans that state law requires anyone who finds stray livestock is required to notify the county sheriff’s department within seven days. Waiting longer than that could result in being charged with larceny.

“The law is very clear that anyone who finds livestock is responsible for contacting the sheriff’s office,” he said. “They can claim reimbursement for the cost of caring for the animals but they cannot keep or sell the animals. That would amount to theft and could result in charges being filed.”

Several instances have been noted recently of people improperly concealing or selling livestock that did not belong to them, Grimes said. At least three of these cases have resulted in charges being filed.

“The maximum penalty is seven years in the state penitentiary,” he notes. “The bottom line is that if you find stray livestock, don’t try to keep it or sell it. Be safe and report it right away.”

Special Agent Terry Gregg, Investigative Services Division, received an assignment Monday regarding two fires in the Kiamichi Mountains, four miles north of Nashoba Oklahoma, on Highway 144. The fires are arsons that were set in the middle of the forest that is maintained by the Moffis Timber Company.

As a result of flying over the fire areas about 20 thousand marijuana plants have been spotted on the mountain. Pushmataha County Sheriff’s Department, Drug Task Force Officers, and Special Agent Gregg are investigating. The drug task force has arrested illegal immigrants in the area and expects more arrests to come.

Special Agent Gregg said the fires appear to have been set by someone possibly to draw attention to the operation. The drug cultivation is very large with irrigation systems set up in the mountains to feed the marijuana.

Law Enforcement in that area took two days to collect all of the plants that have an estimated value of about $20 million, according to Pushmataha authorities. According to the sheriff, this was the largest drug bust in the history of Pushmataha County.

Oklahoma agriculture special agents and the Stephens County Sheriff’s Department yesterday arrested a volunteer firefighter charged with 15 counts of third degree arson. Some of the fires were set as long ago as the summer of 2006.

James Edgar Morgan Jr., 47, is being held with a $75,000 bond. Col. Mike Grimes, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry Director of Investigative Services, said Morgan has confessed to his agents of setting many additional fires.

“The suspect has confessed to Special Agents Patrick Blake and Michael Hooper of setting between 40 and 50 fires,” he said. “Our investigators were asked to assist on this case in January and we’ve been working closely with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Department to make this arrest.”

Arson cases are among the most difficult crimes law enforcement agencies deal with, Grimes said. The cooperative efforts and assistance between ODAFF investigators and the sheriff’s department were very good and helped seal the arrest.

“Unless you have a witness, arsons are very difficult to solve,” he said. “Our investigators have a lot of experience and training in investigating arson, and working closely with the sheriff’s department, that certainly helped in this case.”

If convicted, Morgan could receive up to 15 years in prison on each count and fines of up to $10,000 for each count.

Pictured left to right: Special Agent Terry Gregg, Special Agent James Smith, Special Agent Michael Hooper, Special Agent David Spears, Special Agent Patrick Blake, Commissioner Terry Peach, Capt. Jerry Flowers, Col. Mike Grimes, Special Agent Donnie Crain, Special Agent Norma Ast, Special Agent Kevin Martin, June Roy, and Special Agent Bob Williams.

This week the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry held its annual Legislative Luncheon. Each year a different division or program is profiled for this event. This year featured our Investigative Services Division.

They took time for a group photo with Secretary Peach after the event.

State agricultural investigators moved quickly this week and apprehended a Grady County man charged with fraudulently purchasing cattle from a Chickasha livestock market.

Bobby Joe Carter was arrested just 36 hours after the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry Investigative Services Division was assigned to the case, said Col. Mike Grimes, director of the division. Jon Brown, owner of OK Cow Sales in Chickasha requested the assistance at the suggestion of the Grady County Sheriff’s office.

“The cattle were purchased with a check written on a closed account and then immediately taken to a market in El Reno and sold,” he said. “I assigned Cpt. Jerry Flowers to the case and he conducted an extensive investigation, identified Carter as the suspect, and presented the case to the district attorney’s office which subsequently filed charges.”

During his investigation Flowers learned the suspect was out of prison on parole for similar charges, Grimes said.

“Through the assistance of the suspect’s Department of Corrections Parole Officer, Cpt. Flowers was able to quickly locate and arrest Mr. Carter,” Grimes said. He is being held in the Grady County jail at this time.”

ODAFF Investigative Services agents relied on a great deal of hard work and cooperation from a variety of agencies to arrest a man yesterday who is suspected of cattle theft in Murray County. Col. Mike Grimes, Director of the division said his agents had been looking for Alan Gammon since last May.

The suspect was arrested in Roger Mills County after information gleaned from months of investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, the Oklahoma Department of Insurance, and the Murray County Sheriff’s Department, The Roger Mills County Sheriff’s Department took Gammon into custody yesterday on the request of the ODAFF Investigative Services Division.

Here is the ODAFF story about Oklahoma’s most recent cattle rustler arrest.

–Jack Carson

Our Investigative Services Division has been extremely active lately. The more cases they work and solve, the busier they seem to be. Word gets, out, Colonel Mike Grimes told me the other day, and demand for their services keeps on increasing.

Today’s Shawnee News-Star online edition is carrying this feature story about the ODAFF Investigative Services Division and the Tulsa World featured a story on Saturday about the division’s work in solving an animal cruelty case.

Both are worth reading!
Jack Carson

It is no secret that we had hoped the killer or killers responsible for the death of a Logan County cow would be in custody by now. So far, however, no arrests have been made.

Our Investigative Division continues their efforts to find the criminals and we’re still hoping that $7,500 in reward money will prompt someone to do the right thing and come forward with information. We’ve had some great support from state media in publicizing information about both the crime and the reward. In today’s Journal Record, Brian Brus provides an update from ODAFF Agent, Jerry Flowers.
–Jack Carson

Last week’s story about the Logan County cow, considered a pet by her owner, has generated a great deal of fury from Oklahomans but no suspects at this point. Col. Mike Grimes, Director of Investigative Services, said he has been in contact with the U.S. Humane Society and they said they will pay a reward of $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for the crime.

On Wednesday we learned that the owner of the animal was insured by Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the company offers up to $5,000 in reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone committing a felony against one of its members.

More information about the award and comments from Secretary of Agriculture, Terry Peach and OFB President, Mike Spradling are in this Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry press release on the agency website.

Oklahoma City—State agriculture department investigators are seeking help from the public with information regarding the killing and decapitation of a Logan County black cow.
“This is the first case like this I’ve worked in my career,” said Col. Mike Grimes, Director of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry Investigative Services Division. “The animal was killed—most likely by gunshot—and then the head was roughly cut from the carcass. Nothing but the head was removed.”
Investigators believe the crime probably occurred around December 6-8.
The cow’s owner said it had unusual horns and someone may have wanted the head and horns for display or to sell. The cow was a mixed breed black angus, a breed that seldom has horns.
“The cow had horns approximately six inches wide and six to eight inches in length and the owner said they stood straight up from her head,” Grimes said. “That is a very unusual appearance.”
The owner is especially upset with the loss because the cow was extremely docile and considered as a pet, he added. Anyone could walk up to her and pet her.
“That’s what we believe actually happened to her,” Grimes said. “We think someone walked up to her while she was lying down and shot her in the forehead before cutting her head off.”
Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call the ODAFF Investigative Services Division at (405) 522-6102.