Phillip David Messick, 24, of Dothan, faces multiple felony criminal charges after he allegedly drove a stolen tractor while under the influence of alcohol. Houston County Sheriff William Maddox said deputies arrested Messick and charged him with felony first-degree theft of property, three felony counts of first-degree criminal mischief, three misdemeanor counts of third-degree criminal mischief, misdemeanor resisting arrest, and driving under the influence. Messick currently remains in custody at the Henry County Jail on bail totaling $113,000.
Maddox reports that deputies responded to a complaint of someone driving a tractor recklessly in the areas of Henry County roads 99 and 45 near Headland. Police arrived at the scene to find Maddox driving the John Deere tractor down the middle of the road.
Court records show that Messick was charged with felony criminal mischief for allegedly causing more than $200,000 in damages to a sprayer tractor belonging to a Newville man. The second felony criminal mischief charge accuses Messick of causing $3,000 in damages to a church sign for the Wings of Deliverance Church in Henry County. The third felony criminal mischief offense alleges that Messick caused over $3,000 worth of damage to fencing and gates belonging to the Wiregrass Construction Company.
Sheriff Maddox also said that Messick allegedly ran over a city of Headland road sign while driving the tractor.
