Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) property crimes investigators have arrested a homeless man who they say stole a small bulldozer from a Gainesville business last month and then damaged other properties as he drove the stolen equipment through the area.
HCSO NARRATIVE :
“According to the investigation to date, Hiram Earl Thompson, 48, who has a Gainesville address but states he is homeless, stole a John Deere 450 from Coker Equipment on Industrial Boulevard the night of February 22, 2025.
Investigators determined Mr. Thompson drove the bulldozer on public roadways eventually ending up at Precision Automotive on Hall Street.
Video evidence showed Mr. Thompson used the stolen bulldozer to flip another piece of equipment on the Coker Equipment property. He also damaged three parked vehicles and a fence on the property of Precision Automotive.
On Feb. 25, investigators issued arrest warrants for Mr. Thompson on theft by taking and criminal damage to property charge, both felony offenses. Additional charges are possible pending the results of the ongoing investigation.
An HCSO deputy saw Mr. Thompson at Meeks Grocery on Atlanta Highway the morning of Feb. 28 and arrested him on the current warrants.
Mr. Thompson (remained in the Hall County Jail Monday afternoon) on a bond of $5,550.”