Employee takes $12,000 in items from Rural King

Published 1:53 pm Monday, November 14, 2011

A former Rural King employee was arrested after police seized more than $12,000 worth of stolen property from a Cass County residence in late October.

Russell Garvin, 50, of Niles, was arrested for embezzlement and taken to the Berrien County jail on Nov. 7.

Sgt. Steve Campbell of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department said the items were located at the home of one of Garvin’s relatives on Oct. 22. Acting on a tip, police were able to locate and arrest Garvin in Niles Township on Nov. 7.

It is believed that Garvin acted alone.

Members of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department and Michigan State Police recovered numerous items, including a lawn mower, trailer, chain saws and motorbikes.

Rural King in Niles reported items were missing to police on Oct. 18.