Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Authorities say charges are pending against a male suspect accused of stealing at least 119 batteries from heavy equipment in Tuscarawas and Holmes counties.  

Detective Adam Fisher of the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office says over the last several weeks the department has received nine reports of battery thefts totaling more than 80 batteries. He notes that the total includes the 26 bus batteries stolen from the Tuscarawas Valley school district on August 22.

Similar reports totaling an additional 39 batteries have been taken by the Dover and Strasburg police departments and the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office.

Fisher says detectives from the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office and the Dover Police Department have been thoroughly investigating the thefts and were able to use surveillance footage to positively identify the male responsible.

“There was some surveillance video from area businesses that was gathered, and some images were observed of a male who was positively identified by area law enforcement officers,” he says.

Fisher says officers subsequently made contact with the suspect, who ultimately confessed to stealing the batteries and scrapping them for cash. 

Fisher says the department will be submitting a report to the Tuscarawas County Prosecutor’s Office for review. He says the name of the suspect won’t be released until formal charges are filed.

A report has also been sent to the Holmes County Prosecutor’s Office regarding the incidents in Holmes County.