A 23-year-old Fort Stewart soldier faces five charges after a victim reportedly saw him stealing a barbecue grill, according to Julian Miller, a public affairs administrator with the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department.

The soldier, Pvt. Wesley Allen Cartee, is assigned to the 5-7 Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. He arrived at Fort Stewart in August 2008 and is a cavalry scout, according to Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson.

Cartee, who lives in Savannah, was arrested by Savannah police Sunday after a man reported seeing someone driving on Chevis Road pulling a smoker grill he had stored on Wild Heron Road. Police stopped the vehicle pulling the smoker and arrested Cartee only to receive reports of two boats stolen recently from the same property.

“Cartee admitted taking the boats, one of which was found at his home and the other in a wooded area off New Hamstead Drive, minus its trailer,” Miller said in a news release.

The investigation by West Chatham Precinct detectives showed that Cartee allegedly had been pawning power tools and jewelry taken from his own family members to support his addiction to pills. 

Cartee has been charged with possession of tools for commission of a crime, possession of drug-related objects, criminal trespass and two counts of theft by taking.

The investigation is ongoing. Police also are attempting to locate the missing trailer.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 912-234-2020 or send a text message to CRIMES (274637). In the body of the message, include “CStop2020” plus the tip. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.