Man Arrested after Stolen Mower Runs Out of Gas

A Paducah man was arrested Sunday afternoon in McCracken County, after the lawnmower he was riding away from the scene of a reported burglary ran out of gas.

The McCracken County Sheriff’s Department says deputies were dispatched shortly before 4 p.m. to a report of a suspicious person with several gun cases riding a lawnmower in the area of Fairview Drive. Deputies located and identified the man riding the mower as 25-year-old Timothy Sams of Paducah. Deputies said that when they questioned Sams about the items, he said he owned them. As deputies continued their investigation they grew suspicious that Sams was not the rightful owner of the items.

Deputies said Sams had a wallet that clearly did not belong to him, which was found to be taken from a home on Gatewood Drive. During their investigation, deputies learned that another home on Palisades Circle had been burglarized. They then contacted the out of town homeowner, who was able to give detailed descriptions of the mower, and other items that Sams had in his possession.

Deputies reportedly found several items that had fallen off the mower during the getaway. Sams made it about a half mile before the mower ran out of gas.

When deputies tried to arrest Sams he attempted to flee, striking one of the deputies in the face. He was then taken into custody and booked into the McCracken County Regional Jail without further incident on charges of 1st degree burglary, resisting arrest and assault.

Detectives say they are still following up on additional burglaries that they suspect Sams may have committed.