Three men arrested for alleged golf cart theft in Poplar Bluff

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Three men could face charges in connection with a break-in at the Ozark Ridge Municipal Golf Course and the theft of two golf carts after authorities tracked their alleged purchase of spray paint.

The golf carts, which were valued at more than $3,000 each, as well as 40 gallons of gasoline and several tools were reported stolen to Poplar Bluff Police patrolman Bryce Colvin at 6:35 a.m. Wednesday.

At about 12:40 p.m., Colvin, with the aid of a golf course employee, reportedly recovered one of the golf carts, which had been spray-painted black, in the area of 53 Package on Highway 53.

"One of the employees drove by and saw it parked off the road," said Capt. Mike Elliott. "There were four cans of empty paint, two black, two gray, in the golf cart."

At that point, Elliott said Colvin began looking at locations where the paint could have been purchased.

Colvin's investigation reportedly led him to the Dollar General Store, where the spray paint allegedly was purchased.

A vehicle description was developed, and with the help of patrolman Steve McCane, Michael Allen Crane was identified as a possible suspect.

Elliott said he and Detective Leigh Morgan later found the second golf cart at Jeremy Owens' residence. It had been spray-painted gray.

Elliott said Crane, 21, of Wappapello, Mo., Coti Don Massie, 21, of Poplar Bluff and Jeremy W. Owens, 20, of rural Butler County, Mo., were arrested Friday.

After being told of their rights, the men "all confessed and implicated each other," Elliott said.

Officers, Elliott said, believed Crane drove to the golf course between 3 and 6 a.m. Wednesday with the intent to steal gasoline.

"Our investigation [revealed] that Michael Crane and Coti Massie were the actual guys who broke into the place, while Owens acted in the capacity of a lookout," Elliott said.

The men filled their Cadillac with gasoline and "topped off the tanks of two golf carts," according to Elliott.

Massie and Crane, who are on probation, allegedly each drove away a golf cart, while Owens drove the car, Elliott said.

The next morning, Elliott said, Crane and Owens are believed to have gone to McCoy's Scrapyard, where they sold the batteries.

In addition to finding the golf carts, officers also recovered most of the items reported stolen from the golf course, as well as other items "we believe were taken in a burglary in the county," Elliott said.