On Friday, October 15, 2010, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office arrested an 18 year old man for multiple burglaries.
Detectives were investigating several vehicle burglaries that had occurred in the Ft. White area during the early morning hours on Monday and Tuesday of this week. Detective Todd Green and Detective Joe Vargo were able to identify Dusty Tolbert as a possible suspect in the burglaries. On Wednesday, October 13, 2010, Deputy Don Meyer made contact with Tolbert as he rode a bicycle along U.S. 27 in Ft. White. Tolbert voluntarily rode to the Sheriff’s Office Ft. White Substation and spoke with Detective Green and Vargo. Tolbert confessed that he was responsible for eight car burglaries and also confessed to committing a burglary to Ft. White High School earlier in the year (March of 2010). Detectives also determined that the bicycle Tolbert was riding was stolen from a Ft. White home in the Three Rivers area.
In total, Detectives were able to solve eight vehicle burglaries from the Three Rivers area that occurred Monday and Tuesday mornings. During these burglaries, gps units, cash and jewelry were stolen. Detectives estimate the stolen property to be in excess of $2,000.00. Detectives were able to recover some of the stolen property Friday evening. Tolbert was arrested at the Ft. White substation without incident and booked into the Columbia County Detention Facility.
Detectives have been able to return some of the recovered stolen property to the rightful owners. Several gps units and other items have not been returned and there may be victims that have yet to report their property stolen. Detectives asks the public to make contact with them to identify property that was previously reported stolen or not yet reported. Detective Vargo can be reached at 386-497-2030.
Detectives have identified other persons that are involved in these crimes and additional arrests are forthcoming.
In 2009, a reorganization of the Sheriff’s Office assigned two full time detectives to the Ft. White area. This move has allowed detectives and patrol deputies to communicate effectively and allowed them to proactively patrol the southern portion of Columbia County. The intimate knowledge of the area and it’s crime trends have allowed officers to quickly identify potential suspects as this case is a prime example.
Arrested:
[lightbox href=”https://columbiasheriff.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Dustyn-Toblert.jpg”] [image src=”https://columbiasheriff.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Dustyn-Toblert.jpg” height=150 width=150] [/lightbox]
Dustyn McArthur Tolbert, 8/10/1992.
No known address for Tolbert.
Charges: Burglary (10 counts)
Tolbert is being held in the Columbia County Detention Facility on $25,000.00 bond.
