Monroe County Independent

Gilliam And Schneider Charged With Theft…

Barbecue Grill Returned To Pork Producers

Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Gardner, right, inspects the stolen Pork Producer’s grill after he arrested the driver and the passenger at HH Road and Andy Road in rural Waterloo. – photo by Gage Wienhoff

Trent Gilliam of Waterloo and Andrew Schneider of New Athens were taken into custody last night on theft charges regarding their apparent taking of a barbecue grill from the Porta Westfalica Festival. Gilliam, 35, and Schneider, 29, were arrested last night and taken to the Monroe County Jail.

Thanks to an observant witness and a well-coordinated effort between Waterloo and county police officers, the grill was quickly recovered. Just before 10 p.m., the Monroe County Pork Producers reported an individual stealing their newly-purchased grill from the grounds of Waterloo’s annual German heritage festival. While driving near his home outside of Foster Pond, Waterloo Firefighter Mike Lloyd heard the police report over a scanner. Moments later he witnessed a truck pulling a grill which matched the description. He began to follow the vehicle after contacting the emergency dispatcher's office.

County deputies and Waterloo police officers were soon on their way. The truck took back roads between Foster Pond and Waterloo, including Trout Camp and Deer Hill, all while leaving a trail of grease dripping on the roadway. County Deputy Larry Gardner came upon the truck and stolen grill at the intersection of HH Road and Andy Road. Gardner was soon joined at the scene by several fellow officers. The driver, Gilliam, and the passenger, Schneider, were handcuffed without incident and placed in the back of a squad car and taken to the Monroe County Jail. They are waiting a court appearance regarding the theft charges.

Wheat’s Towing towed the truck to their lot. The grill was released last night to Pork Producer’s member Jake Stumpf. The grill was purchased earlier this year by the Pork Producers. They use it to grill pork products sold at numerous local summer picnics.

A large barbecue grill has been just stolen from the Porta Westfalica Festival. It is believed to have belonged to the Monroe County Pork Producers, who were operating a pork sandwich stand at tonight’s event at the Monroe County Courthouse.

The initial report is that at 9:50 p.m., while at they were working their stand several yards away from the grill, members of the Pork Producers witnessed a red pickup truck hook up and pull away with their newly purchased grill, valued at more than $9,000. It is a large grill which requires a hook-up for towing.

Waterloo police officers are following a trail of grease along Fourth Street and then onto Lakeview Drive (the Maeystown Highway). Anyone observing a red truck pulling a grill is asked to contact the local police immediately.