Three arrested in connection with alleged Perry County anhydrous ammonia thefts

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- A tip from the public led to Monday's arrest of three Missouri men allegedly attempting to steal anhydrous ammonia from a storage tank at a farm on Route M in Perry County.

In a Wednesday news release, Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf said the sheriff's department received tips of ammonia thefts from the location occurring at least twice a week, so deputies were assigned to surveillance in the area. On Monday, they saw suspicious activity around the tanks and attempted to make arrests.

Donald E. Mauzy, 35, of High Ridge, Mo., and Tracy D. Hyden, 45, of St. Louis were allegedly seen on the property and were arrested after attempting to leave the area on foot. Nicklas W. Harris, 38, of Eureka, Mo., was allegedly the man who dropped Mauzy and Hyden off at the farm. He was arrested after he was found driving around the area.

Donald Mauzy

Schaaf said the department sent out a Nixle.com alert, a messaging service used by more than 4,600 public safety agencies, in order to advise the public of what was happening and to ask for their help in locating the suspects.

"It worked great as someone from Saberliner called to tell us they saw him walking down Highway H," Schaaf said in the release.

Hyden and Mauzy are each charged with felony theft of anhydrous ammonia; trespassing, a misdemeanor; resisting arrest and possession of anhydrous ammonia in an unapproved container, both felonies. Harris, the alleged driver, is charged with felony theft of anhydrous ammonia, possession of a controlled substance and failure to drive on the right side of the road.

Nicklas Harris

All are in custody of the Perry County Sheriff's Department on a $2,500 cash-only bond.

Pertinent address:

Route M, Perryville, MO