6 foot tall air compressor stolen from auto repair shop in Summerfield

A 6-foot-tall air compressor was stolen from an automobile repair shop in Summerfield.

According to an arrest report from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the piece of valuable equipment at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service was apparently stolen early Saturday morning.

Video surveillance captured a truck, which initially pulled over at a repair shop on US High around 2:30 p.m. 441. The truck returned twice more and on the third trip there was a trailer in tow. Around 5 a.m., the air compressor was loaded onto the trailer and the truck drove away.

The deputy later spotted 33-year-old Brandon Earl Rutledge of Summerfield, who appeared to be wearing the same type of clothing he was wearing when a thief was caught on video surveillance.

Rutledge admitted that he had been smoking methamphetamine when he was asked to be involved in the air compressor robbery. He claimed he was not told where the air compressor was being taken, but he was told that a buyer was lined up for the piece of equipment.

Rutledge was arrested on a serious charge of grand theft. He was booked into the Marion County Jail on a $2,000 bond.