Crime & Safety

Eight Charged As a Result of Hot Air Balloon Theft Investigation

Multiple Gwinnett and Barrow cases closed as a result.

An investigation into the July 5 theft of a hot air balloon has led to the multiple arrests and the closure of several cases in Gwinnett and Barrow counties, police say.

The stolen hot air balloon and trailer were recovered July 6 off Stanley Road in Dacula. The equipment, valued at $70,000, had been reported stolen from a home on Collins Hill Road. When police recovered the balloon and trailer, several pieces of equipment were missing.

An anonymous tip led authorities to a home on Scott Circle in Dacula. Detectives searched the home and located parts of a lock believed to be part of the stolen trailer. Investigators also found small amounts of methamphetamine and marijuana. Detectives obtained warrants against the resident of the home, Susan Owen, 32, for drug possession. Owen has not yet been apprehended.

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A second tip led investigators to two suspects in the theft of the hot air balloon trailer: Amber Spinks, 24, and her father Richard Spinks, 46. On July 14, a citizen reported several people trespassing on his property on the Apalachee River, which borders Barrow County. The trespassers fled on foot when the citizen confronted them. The trespassers, later identified as Amber Spinks and Jason Gordon, 33, left behind a Kawasaki Mule UTV that had been reported stolen in Barrow County. While searching the area, detectives located other pieces of equipment stolen from the hot air balloon trailer.

Amber Spinks was taken into custody in Gwinnett on July 24 and charged with two counts of theft by receiving. Jason Gordon was arrested in Barrow County and also charged with two counts of theft by receiving.

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During the ongoing investigation, authorities determined that Amber Spinks’ father Richard was an associate of 23-year-old Dustin Martin. According to authorities, Richard Spinks and Martin had exchanged photos and information about the stolen Mule that Amber Spinks had been riding.

On July 21, detectives executed a search warrant at 4395 Fence Road in Dacula. Investigators located a stolen Chevrolet Trailblazer, two stolen vehicle tags and other stolen items. Detectives also discovered evidence of a chop shop and determined that Martin, 27-year-old Brandon Steedley and 25-year-old Jessica Baker were responsible for the operation of the illegal shop. None of the three suspects were present at the time the property was searched.

Steedley was later arrested in Barrow County and charged with operating a chop shop, theft by receiving a motor vehicle and two counts of theft by receiving stolen property. Martin and Baker were later located at the Sun Suites (extended stay hotel) on Steve Reynolds Boulevard. Martin jumped from a third story window in an attempt to elude capture. He was apprehended by a K-9 officer waiting below and charged with operating a chop shop, theft by receiving a motor vehicle, two counts of theft by receiving stolen property and seven counts of violating Georgia’s Controlled Substances Act. According to police, Martin had seven varieties of drugs on his person at the time of his arrest. Baker was taken into custody without incident and charged with conspiracy to operate a chop shop and possession of methamphetamine.

Douglas Hampton, 23, was present at the Fence Road chop shop at the time of the search and was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant.

According to police, the charges against Richard Spinks, Amber Spinks and Jason Gordon stem from the theft of the hot air balloon. Richard Spinks remains at large. Anyone with information regarding his location is asked to call 911 or 770-513-5300.


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