A former employee of Chimp Haven was arrested after Sheriff’s deputies found him in possession of a $26,000 tractor stolen from the chimpanzee sanctuary, said Sheriff Steve Prator.

Keith Randall Matthews, 42, of Shreveport, was booked into Caddo Correctional Center today and charged with illegal possession of stolen things.

The Kubota tractor was reported stolen from Chimp Haven on September 16, 2013. Detectives received a tip recently that the tractor could be found on Matthews’ property.  They contacted Matthews, who said he purchased the tractor from an unknown male in 2013 for $12,000. Deputies recovered the tractor. Matthews was arrested by Caddo Sheriff’s Detective Donnie Laney.