Elkmont, AL : Elkmont man who stole and wrecked truck already faced theft charges on April, monday 24th 2017

An Elkmont man charged Monday with stealing a truck in Falkville had been charged earlier this year in the thefts of two other vehicles and a vehicle-hauling trailer.

Matthew Charles Hyatt, 42, of 22567 Alabama 99, was charged with first-degree theft, according to the Falkville Police Department. He allegedly stole a 1990 Chevrolet GTM 400 truck from the parking lot of Big Rig Enterprises Inc. in Falkville on April 16. He then drove into Cullman County, where he was chased by Hanceville police after an officer tried to conduct a traffic stop, said Falkville police Sgt. Aaron Burgess.

The chase ended when Hyatt wrecked the vehicle, according to reports.

The vehicle was one of the business owner’s personal vehicles, Burgess said.

A warrant for Hyatt's arrest was obtained after his charges in Hanceville were sorted out, Burgess said.

“When I asked him how he stole it … he said he found the key in it and took it upon himself to hop in it,” Burgess said.

During questioning Monday night, Hyatt blamed his actions on his struggle with drug addiction, Burgess said.

Hyatt was being held in Morgan County Jail with bail set at $7,500.

In the past six months, Hyatt has been charged with stealing from local businesses at least three other times.

Hyatt allegedly stole a car trailer from Highline Inc., a used car dealership in Tanner, according to a report filed with the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office.

The business owner stated the trailer was stolen between Dec. 26 and 28, according to the report.

The trailer was discovered Jan. 11 along with another truck stolen in Decatur from Car Mart on U.S. 31 South, which was reported stolen the same day.

Officers were able to locate the truck on Interstate 65 just north of the Decatur exit in Limestone County, according to the affidavit.

Police discovered that Hyatt was using the truck stolen in Decatur to pull the stolen vehicle-hauling trailer that contained a second truck that had been reported stolen from Tinnon’s Auto Sales in Athens on Nov. 28, 2016, according to a report filed with the Athens Police Department.

Hyatt was the truck’s sole occupant, and he later gave a written statement to officers confessing he stole the truck from the Car Mart lot, court records show.

He was charged with first-degree theft in Decatur in January. He later was charged in Limestone County for the theft of the other vehicle and the vehicle-hauling trailer. He was released on the Limestone County charges Feb. 28 after posting $2,500 bail.


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Elkmont man who stole and wrecked truck already faced theft charges