Corbin Police arrested a Girdler man on Thursday after he reportedly stole over $47,000 worth of factory parts from the Pepsi Cola Factory in Corbin.
Patrolman Brentley Patrick responded to the Pepsi Cola Factory and spoke with administrators there about a suspected theft occurring of parts for their machines in the factory on Thursday, March 3.
The suspect allegedly took photos of parts inside the plant and posted them on eBay to sell.
After an estimated quote for the listed parts was provided (more than $30,000), Patrolman Patrick released the investigation to Corbin Police Detective Basil Hodge.
Detective Hodge retrieved information from a database to determine the eBay account selling the stolen merchandise belonged to an employee Joshua Tuttle.
Tuttle also took photos inside his vehicle before posting items on eBay.
Detective Hodge conducted an interview with Tuttle where he admitted to the theft of the items.
Detective Hodge and Captain Rob Jones then retrieved $19,684 worth of Pepsi equipment from Tuttle's vehicle and residence.
The items Tuttle already sold totaled $27,485, with an overall total of reported stolen items at $47,169.
During the arrest, Tuttle had over a dozen hydrocodone pills inside of his jacket pocket.
Tuttle, 30, of Girdler, KY, was arrested and charged with Possession - First Degree and Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition All Others over $10,000 but less than $1,000,000.
He was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.
Chief Rusty Hedrick, Captain Rob Jones, and Sergeant Jeff Hill assisted with the investigation.
Samantha Walden, Staff Writer at the Kentucky Daily