The Dalton Police Department arrested Garrett Grayson Hall, 38, with more than 100 counts of theft on Thursday for stealing more than 100 metal signs including road signs. The signs were discovered during the investigation of the theft of more than 300 pounds of aluminum from the Glenwood Avenue Kroger construction site, for which Hall has also been charged.
The metal theft at Kroger happened over the weekend and was discovered on Monday, when the construction crew came back to work remodeling the store. More than 300 pounds of aluminum framing which was kept behind the store was missing. The construction foreman told police that a white Ford pickup truck with a cattle bar on the front was seen in the area. Investigating officers went to metal recycling businesses in the area and learned that Hall had recycled a large quantity of aluminum metal at two recycling centers. Witnesses said that the truck he drives matches the description of the suspect vehicle. Investigators determined that the metal Hall recycled was the missing metal stolen from Kroger. After interviewing Hall, officers obtained warrants for his arrest and a search warrant for his residence.
Officers served the search warrant at his residence at 1208 Applewood Drive on Tuesday and found 116 stolen metal road signs inside. The signs include traffic signs and highway markers. Also, there were signs belonging to Dalton Utilities, Hamilton Medical Center, the Georgia Forestry Service, and also a training center sign from the Tunnel Hill Police Department. Officers obtained warrants for 116 counts of theft by taking and Hall was charged for those thefts on Thursday. The stolen signs that were able to be matched with an owner were returned to their rightful owners. The rest are in evidence at the Police Services Center.