Monday, March 18, 2019

Newport/Cocke County stolen vehicles
Cocke County and Newport authorities made one arrest and are investigating four additional stolen vehicle cases over the weekend. A man who escaped from the Cocke County Jail in October 2017 after he and another inmate seriously injured two corrections officers in their escape from the facility, was taken into custody. Following the escape, Ezekial Thompson, 26, Strawberry Way, Newport was added to the TBI's Top 10 Most Wanted list, and Cocke County authorities took him into custody the following day. On Friday, Deputy Sgt. Max Laughter said in early February, Thompson stole a 2012 Honda owned by Caralee Hayes, Stokes Valley Way, Newport after she drove to a home on Bullard Drive. Officers returned to a nearby residence on Friday where they found the wanted subject. Thompson had allegedly escaped from a drug rehabilitation facility recently. Thompson now is charged with theft over $1,000 and escape in the recent offenses. He also is charged with a probation violation stemming from the 2017 jail assault and escape. Deputy Daniel Smith says a 1991 Ford Thunderbird stolen from Darlene Stapleton, Jefferson Street, White Pine, was recovered on Saturday. Officers spotted the black car on Highway 32 and it fled onto Deerfoot Road. The driver, Richard Shelton, no age or address given and his passenger, Amy Sutton, Deerfoot Road, Cosby, both fled on foot. Deputy Smith and his K-9 Hammer began to track the suspects into a wooded area and Sutton was found hiding under brush. She was jailed on charges of joyriding and evading arrest. Sutton was not captured. Deputy Sgt. Heath Willis responded to Corral Road in reference to a stolen 2011 Honda owned by Chad Paul of Sweetwater. The officer determined the tag on the auto belonged to a red Ford. In addition, the front fenders and the hood of the Honda had been painted white. The resident, Samantha Frady, told officers that she has a bill of sale for the auto which she purchased from a Bill Wilson for $1,000 earlier last week. The vehicle was seized and charges of theft of property are pending. Newport police have recovered and filed charges in the Friday theft of a 2012 Honda Pilot owned by Edward and Augistina Prater of Cliffwood Drive. Officers received information that the auto was at a residence on Melton Road. At the location they found, Matt Burnett Douglas, 40, Industrial Road, Newport, who told Patrol Officer Joshyua Shults that he obtained the vehicle from a friend named Lisa. All of the contents remained in the vehicle. Douglas was taken into custody on charges of theft over $10,000 and he also was wanted on a probation violation and failure to appear for a court hearing. Sunday morning, Janet Sue Gregg reported her red 1997 Saturn taken from her home on North Street. She told Newport Patrol Officer Mike Robey that she left the keys in the car because she could not remove them from the ignition.


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