Two former Cannon County Correctional Officers, 24 year old Jonathan McCormick of Lee Braswell Road, Smithville and 24 year old Christopher Hale of West Main Street, Smithville have been charged in connection with several local burglaries and thefts. Both men worked for former Cannon County Sheriff Kenny Wetzel.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says McCormick was arrested on May 30th for three counts of Burglary, one count of Aggravated Burglary, two counts of theft over $500 and three counts of theft over $1,000. Bond is set at $140,000 . His court date is set for June 21st.
Detectives allege that on May 19th, McCormick entered a house at LaFever Ridge Road, Silver Point that was under construction and took electrical tools valued at $2,600. The tools have since been recovered.
Hale has also been charged with two counts of Burglary, one count of Aggravated Burglary, three counts of theft of property over $500 and two counts of theft of property over $1,000. Bond is set at $410,000 and his court date is June 28th
.
Detectives allege that on May 10th, McCormick and Hale entered a residence that was under construction on Coconut Ridge Road Smithville and took 300 feet of under ground copper wire and various hand tools valued at $1,110.
Sheriff Ray says McCormick and Hale, on May 14th, entered a residence through a window on Big Rock Road Smithville and took a computer valued at $800. The computer has since been recovered.
Two days later on May 16th, McCormick and Hale entered a house on Seaton Drive, Smithville, that was under construction and took 8 rolls of copper wire that was valued at $600.
The same day, they allegedly took a roll of cooper wire valued at $600 from a company who was doing wiring for the newly constructed dock at Hurricane Boat Dock.
McCormick and Hale also allegedly took 2,000 pounds of copper wire valued at $6,000 from a location on Game Ridge Road Smithville on May 28th.
Meanwhile, on May 30th, John Atnip Jr. of Jacobs Pillar Road Smithville was involved in a hit and run accident on Short Mountain Highway. Atnip lost control of his vehicle, went across the roadway, and struck a utility pole. Atnip then fled the scene. Atnip was later arrested and charged with leaving the scene and violation of his driver’s license. Atnip was placed under a $2,500 bond and his court date is June 28th.
20 year old Ben Pascal of Green Hill Road, McMinnville was arrested on May 30th for theft of property. Sheriff Patrick Ray says Pascal went to visit a friend on South Tittsworth Road , Smithville and stole another visitor’s prescription drugs (10 Oxycontin 20 milligrams). Bond is set a $1,000 and his court date is June 7th.
Meanwhile, on May 30th, deputies from the Sheriff’s Department worked a wreck on Highway 70 West in Liberty.
45 year old Hoyte Neal of West Broad Street, Smithville was west bound on the Nashville Highway. in a 2005 GMC Pickup. Neal failed to negotiate a curve and ran head on into two parked vehicles in a parking lot belonging to Crook’s Auto Sales. Neal’s vehicle also struck the car lot’s office building. Neal was not injured.
On May 31st, 19 year old Kurtis Dykes of Floyd Drive, Smithville was charged with Consumption of alcohol under age 21. Deputies pulled over Dykes’ vehicle in Dowelltown for a traffic violation and found Dykes had been drinking. His bond was set at $1,500 and his court date is June 21st.
Deputies, also on May 31st, worked a motor vehicle accident at the Intersection of Patterson Road and Short Mountain Road. 48 year old Martin Arnold of Wet Mill Creek ,Celina was arrested for DUI and implied consent after deputies found Arnold to be under the influence. Bond was set at $1,500. His court date is June 28th.
On Friday, June 1st, the Sheriff’s Department received a report from Redmon Road, Smithville that a car was stolen. Warrants have been taken on 39 year old James Cargill of St. Louis, Missouri. Cargill was arrested in Long Beach, Mississippi for possession of the stolen vehicle. Cargill will be extradited back to Tennessee shortly to face charges here for theft of property over $1,000.
On Saturday, June 2nd, 18 year old Brandon Hutchings of Young Ridge Road, Sparta was charged with public intoxication and consumption of alcohol under age 21. Deputies were called to Young Ridge Road to answer a disturbance call and found Hutchins in an intoxicated state. Bond was set at $5,000 and his court date is June 28th.
Archived News & Obituaries