Advertisement Former police officer involved in string of lawn mower thefts Four people arrested in connection to multi-jurisdiction investigation Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A former Greensboro police officer was arrested Monday for stealing lawn mowers from a Triad business, authorities said. Reidsville police received a report on Aug. 22 that someone broke into Scott’s Tractor at 2019 Freeway Drive and stole three John Deere and five Bob-Cat zero-turning lawn mowers, worth more than $44,000. Durham County Sheriff’s Office called Reidsville police after they recovered one of the lawn mowers reported stolen from Scott’s Tractor. It was discovered during the investigation that one of the suspects, William White, 32, of Pleasant Garden, was a Greensboro police officer. Reidsville police asked the State Bureau of Investigation to assist detectives in the case. Detectives later learned of other similar incidents under investigation by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and the Burlington Police Department. Reidsville began working with all involved agencies. White was arrested Monday in connection with the break-in and larceny at Scott’s Tractor. White is charged with possession of stolen property and obtaining property by false pretense, both felony offenses. White was processed at the Reidsville police station and taken to the Alamance County Detention Center, where is being held on a $75,000 secured bond. Three other men were also charged in connection with the break-in and larceny. Jeffrey Strickland Jr., of Trinity, is charged with four counts of felony larceny, two counts of obtaining property by false pretense, two counts of possession of stolen property, obstruction of justice, two counts of injury to real property and two counts of first-degree trespassing. He was taken to the Alamance County Detention Center and is being held on a $250,000 secured bond. Jeffrey Strickland Sr., of Trinity, is charged with obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact. He was taken to the Alamance County Detention Center and is being held on a $75,000 secured bond. Christopher Strickland, of Trinity, is charged with obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact. He was taken to the Alamance County Detention Center and is being held on a $75,000 secured bond. White, the former police officer, had been with the force since 2010. He was fired Monday morning prior before his arrest. Before his termination, White had been on administrative duty since Oct. 29, 2016, for a critical incident unrelated to his arrest. “I am deeply disappointed in the actions of former Officer William Z. White that led to his dismissal," Greensboro police Chief Wayne Scott said. "His arrest is contrary to our department’s values, and has the potential to erode the public’s trust in the amazing work done the great men and women of the Greensboro Police Department. For those reasons, I exercised my authority to immediately terminate his employment.” Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to call 336-347-2357, 336-256-1362 or Rockingham County Crime Stoppers at 336-349-9683. DOWNLOAD: Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WXII app here.