Truck Unhooked From Equipment Trailer, Stolen & Wrecked In Broad Daylight While Owner Is Working

Bowling Green Man Arrested Shortly After

A recovered 2016 Chevy pickup, stolen while hooked to a trailer in the middle of the day.

Darren Doyle, story:
It was a short-lived heist for a Bowling Green man on Thursday as he attempted to steal a working man's truck in the middle of the day--while the truck was hooked to a trailer, and as the owner was currently using equipment from the trailer at the property.

Daniel Skaggs, a Chalybeate resident and owner of Webb-Co Lawn Service, was operating his tractor and bush hog on a property in Richardsville. His 2016 Chevy pickup was hooked to a gooseneck trailer nearby and Skaggs said he went to get a drink from a cooler in the truck. As he approached, he could see the truck was gone.

"As I got closer, I saw where they pulled it off the ball somehow and let the jack stands bury up in the blacktop, and the tailgate was ripped off," Skaggs said. "My wallet and pistol was in the console. So I canceled my cards before I called 911 since I knew it had been gone at least 20 minutes."

Skaggs said his trailer was then blocking the road where it had been moved during the theft and a passerby stopped on his way to work. Skaggs explained the situation to him and the man said he'd seen the truck just up the road, completely destroyed.

"Thankfully, they didn't hit an innocent person or kill someone," Skaggs said.

Shortly after, Skaggs said a witness reported that he saw a man sneak into a back door of a mobile home nearby.

"We had a description by now because another farmer stopped and said he saw a guy trying to figure out how to unhook the trailer in the field, even though he didn’t think anything of it at the time, but he fit the description of the same man sneaking in the mobile home," Skaggs said. "Me and two other guys that passed through surrounded the trailer while the homeowner I was working for called 911 again and told the dispatcher that we had him trapped. The cop who was at my truck scene then came rolling in on two wheels. He went in the front door of the mobile home and came out with this guy in handcuffs."

Phillip G. Parker (33) of Bowling Green

Phillip G. Parker (33) of Bowling Green was arrested and charged with:

• Theft by unlawful taking or disposition (Auto) - $10,000 OR MORE BUT U/$1,000,000
• Criminal Mischief, first degree
• Criminal Mischief, third degree
• Leaving scene of accident-failure to render aid or assistance

Parker also has an active "Failure to appear" charge, according to the Warren County Detention Center website. According to the site, he is being held on a $1525 bond.

Skaggs said he now has to wait for his insurance company to work out the details on replacing his stolen, and now wrecked vehicle. He said the suspect had recently been homeless and a nearby family had taken him in.

"I depend on that truck to make my living, so I hope this will be a fast process from here," he said.

The arrest was made by the Warren County Sheriff's Office.