STEUBEN COUNTY, NY (WETM) – A Rathbone man was arrested following an investigation into a backhoe theft that occurred in the city of Bath last month.
Richard L. Freeland, 27, was arrested on charges related to the July 4 robbery, according to New York State Police. Police say Freeland stole the backhoe and tried to use it to steal a tractor in the city of Addison.
Freeland was charged with third-degree burglary (a class D felony), attempted third-degree burglary (a class E felony) and third-degree criminal mischief (a class E felony). Freeland was taken to the New York State Police Department in Painted Post before being transported to the Steuben County Jail for arraignment.
New York State Troopers and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation of the Bath and Painted Post departments of the State Police investigated this case.
