Stolen Lincoln Telephone Co. pickup recovered in Great Falls; two suspects charged

A pickup truck stolen from the Lincoln Telephone Company early Thursday morning was recovered in Great Falls Friday, followed by the arrest of the suspected vehicle thieves.

According to the Great Falls Tribune, police arrested Christopher Henderson, 25, and Letisia Badhawk, 28 Friday morning after they abandoned the vehicle near 4th Avenue North and 17th Street in Great Falls.

The pair allegedly stole the Lincoln Telephone vehicle at 2:33 a.m. Thursday morning, leaving behind a jeep SUV that had been stolen in Great Falls.

Security video from Lincoln businesses shows the Jeep pulling into town at 1:58 a.m. Thirty-four minutes later, video shows headlights illuminating a Lincoln Fire District building from the Lincoln Telephone Company area. The pickup can be seen stopping at the intersection of Stemple pass Road and Highway 200 before turning and heading east toward Great Falls.

Lincoln-area Deputy Sheriff Robert Rivera believed the occupants drove through the neighborhoods on the west end of town before breaking into the telephone company's locked equipment yard to steal the pickup, which was unlocked inside the yard. The truck also contained about $500 worth of tools.

Lincoln Telephone Company General Manager Aaron Daniel said they managed to jerk the gate to the yard open. He said after seeing how easily they broke in through the locked gate they've learned a lesson and will be changing their ways, including chaining their gate shut.

According to the Tribune report, Great Falls police spotted the truck Friday morning at 11:15 a.m. and became suspicious because it was stopped at an uncontrolled intersection for some time, even after a Great Falls Police officer yield the right of way to it. The truck then turned the corner and pulled over in front of a vacant lot. The officer circled the block and identified the truck as the one stole from the telephone company, but the occupants had already left.

Daniel said the truck sported Lincoln Telephone Company decals, but the officers initially identified the truck through the plate since the decals were obscured by a layer of dirt

They were reportedly apprehended several blocks away after police followed their footprints in the snow.

According to the Tribune, Great Falls police charged Henderson with three counts of felony theft and several misdemeanors, including criminal mischief, theft, obstructing a peace officer and destroying or tampering with a communication device. Badhawk faces felony charges of theft and possession of stolen property, and obstructing a peace officer.

Henderson and Badhawk reportedly also admitted to other vehicle thefts during a police interview.

They are facing additional charges in Lewis and Clark County for the truck theft.

The pickup and its contents have been returned to the Lincoln Telephone Company. Daniel said they made a mess of the truck, which was full of equipment for fiber optic home installs, but only two drills and a notebook were missing.

For Rivera, the theft serves as a reminder for residents to secure their vehicles.

"We might live in a small town with a small town feel but we are surrounded by big towns with big town problems," he said. "This is not the first time a vehicle was stolen from Lincoln and taken to another town. The suspects were from other towns. The keys were in the vehicles unlocked. Take your keys inside your house and lock your car doors. This includes while running errands. Wolves look for easy targets, don't become their next prey."