On August 22, 2026, Holmes County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Esto Storage in reference to a theft.
Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the victim, who stated she was having a yard sale and had to leave briefly to run an errand. When she returned, she observed a black Ford F-150 occupied by a male and female who were loading her belongings into the truck.
The victim attempted to stop the individuals and confront them, but they fled the area, traveling north on Highway 79. Fortunately, the victim was able to obtain the vehicle’s tag number and provide it to the responding deputy.
The deputy ran the tag information and contacted the Hartford Police Department. Hartford officers responded to the registered address and were able to identify the suspects as Stacey McClendon and Derek Stanley.
During questioning, both McClendon and Stanley admitted to taking the property. The stolen items were recovered and will be returned to the victim.
Arrest warrants are being issued for Stacey McClendon and Derek Stanley for Grand Theft.
Sheriff John Tate commends the victim for providing valuable information, the HCSO deputy for quickly following up on the vehicle information, and the Hartford Police Department for their assistance in identifying the suspects and recovering the stolen property.
This is a great example of law enforcement agencies working together and citizens providing information to help solve a crime and recover stolen property.
