Metal thefts increase in city

Metal products are increasingly attracting thieves who sell them to unsuspecting operators of scrap firms.

Three incidents of metal thefts occurred within the past week.

An estimated $1,500 worth of steel items, including a large wagon-type wheel and various size pipes and tubing, were taken overnight Thursday from an Evans Street workshop owned by Richard Dugger.

Dugger told Shelbyville police he visited a recycling firm Friday and found the wheel was sold by a particular individual known by name.

*A Wartrace man was charged Friday morning after allegedly loading scrap metal onto his truck without permission at property owned by Ron Vannatta on East Parkway at Madison Street.

Metal was roped and chained to a black 1983 Chevrolet truck's bed when officers arrived.

James W. Hays Jr., 47, Sunset Avenue, Wartrace, was ordered by police to remove the items. He was charged with theft under $500, police said.

*A fence hasn't achieved its purpose of stopping thefts at Hi-Tech Lab, Bethany Lane.

Hot roll sheet metal and stainless sheets have been taken on several nights over the past month, police said.

An employee said some of the items were found at a local metals firm.

Drug charges

Cocaine and meth were found by police on a woman stopped for allegedly driving down the center of Gowen Drive early Friday, police said.

Hypodermic needles were found in the car's glove box and two tablespoons with a substance which field tested positive for cocaine and meth were discovered in a purse belonging to Leslie Ann Darnell, 21, Belmont Avenue.

A bag containing a substance that field tested positive for cocaine and meth was found on Darnell at Bedford County Jail, Officer Matthew Griffy said.

Darnell allegedly told police she'd injected morphine and eaten two or three methadone pills.

She was charged with first offense DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of schedule II drugs and violation of the implied consent law and posted $6,000 bond.

*Police say they discovered marijuana in the pockets of a man initially charged for fifth offense DUI after passing out in his car at Sonic Drive-In, Madison Street.

Officer arrived shortly after midnight Saturday morning, awakened and arrested Richard Aubrey Jacobs, 48, Butler Avenue.

A bag containing an estimated 7.9 grams of marijuana and a marijuana cigarette were found in a pocket as Jacobs entered Bedford County Jail, Officer Gregg Loyd said.

Jacobs was also charged with simple possession. He was released on $21,000 bond.

Fast ending

Engine problems stopped a man as he allegedly tried to elude police early Sunday.

David Alexander Hill, 28, Ray Street, is accused of speeding out of Boston Street at a high rate of speed despite Officer Sam Jacobs' blue lights and verbal orders to stop. Hill then drove quickly down Bird Street with Lt. Mike Baker in pursuit before the engine stalled at the Evans Street intersection, Jacobs said.

Hill, after allegedly trying to restart the car, was removed by Baker and charged with two counts of reckless endangerment and one count each of driving on a suspended license, resisting arrest, and violation of the financial responsibility law (no proof of vehicle insurance).

Dolls taken

Items including six porcelain dolls, a DVD system, dorm-type refrigerator and several radios, TVs and VCRs were stolen sometime last week from a Madison Street home being vacated by Rita F. King, police said.

Other reported thefts and burglaries:

*Tammy Louise Brewer, South Cannon Boulevard, told police a cell phone was stolen from her apartment while she was out between 3:30-6:30 p.m. Friday.

*A compact disc player was taken from a vehicle owned by Randall Jacobs of Tullahoma parked behind a Belmont Avenue home overnight Saturday.

Jacobs said the player was not mounted in the dashboard. No signs of forced entry were seen.

*One wheel and hubcap were removed from a 1999 Pontiac Sunfire at Star Auto Sales, Madison Street, overnight last Wednesday, police said.

Jail intake

The following persons were arrested since Friday by the Bedford County Sheriff's Department, Shelbyville Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol or 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force and processed through Bedford County Jail. They are only charged; guilt or innocence will be determined by the courts.

*Peter Jeremy Gunn, 28, Belmont Avenue; public intoxication, reckless endangerment, possession of drug paraphernalia; released, $4,000 bond

*Dustin Lee Owens, 24, North Walnut Street; aggravated criminal trespassing; released, $1,000 bond

*Danielle Rae Snyder, 20, Murfreesboro; violation check law; released, no bond listed

*Joe Antoine Cannon, 25, Frank Martin Road; failure to appear; released, $2,500 bond

*Leslie Ann Darnell, 21, Belmont Avenue; DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of schedule II drug; released, $6,000 bond

*Angela Louise Wright, 36, Minkslide Road; driving on revoked/suspended license, DUI; released, $5,000 bond

*Jamie Roskom, 33, Smyrna; violation of sex offender registry; released, $7,500 bond

*Kimberly Ann O'Neal, 38, East Depot Street; theft of property; released, $1,000 bond

*Larry Wendall Brown, 41, Morton Street; driving on revoked/suspended license; released, $3,000 bond

*Julian Jimenez, 37, Green Lane; driving on revoked/suspended license, forgery; held, $76,500 bond

*Alfonzo Saturnio, 21, Baker Street; no driver's license/exhibited on demand, leaving scene of accident; released, $2,250 bond

*David Gonzalez, 44, Columbia; failure to appear; held, $2,500 bond

*Richard Aubrey Jacobs, 48, Butler Avenue; DUI, simple possession; released, $21,000 bond

*Joshua Dwayne Hilliard, 23, East Cedar Street; DUI, driving on revoked/suspended license; held, $7,500 bond

*John Paul Tart, 36, Unionville-Deason Road; DUI, driving on revoked/suspended license; held, $10,500 bond

*Edward Eugene Locke, 33, Staley Road; DUI; released, $3,000 bond

*Douglas Ray Hickson, 35, Sandusky Road; disorderly conduct; released, $500 bond

*Thomas Dewayne Pope, 42, Christopher Court; disorderly conduct; released, $500 bond

*April Lynn Sullivan, 37, Webb Road West, Bell Buckle; violation check law; released, $500 bond

*Cara Elizabeth Cole, 26, Wartrace Pike; violation check law; released, $250 bond

*Amanda Kay Carter, 21, Burt Street; disorderly conduct; released, $500 bond

*Ahmed Ali Yussuf, 22, Anthony Lane; disorderly conduct; held, $1,000 bond

*Kitty Lee Mitchell, 51, Madison Street; violation check law; held, $250 bond

*Kenneth Wayne Reese, 21, Manchester; violation of probation; released, $2,500 bond

*Darrell Steve Graves, 46, Whitaker Road; driving on revoked/suspended license, DUI; held, $20,000 bond