Suspect in Christmas Auto Burglaries Arrested

Press Release
CLEVELAND, TN. (January 5, 2022) — During the Christmas weekend, the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office responded to multiple auto burglaries in Northern Bradley County.
Upon investigation, Austin Plemons was identified as a suspect in the burglaries and taken into custody at a motel on James Asbury Drive. A search warrant was obtained and executed on his motel room. During the search, some of the property from the auto burglaries was recovered, along with items reported stolen in two burglaries reported by the Cleveland Police Department. Two handguns were also located in the room, one which had previously been reported stolen.
Plemons was charged by Bradley County Sheriff’s Office detectives with Five Counts of Auto Burglary, Five Counts of Theft Under $1,000, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Cleveland Police Department detectives also charged Plemons with Two Counts of Auto Burglary and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card. He was then transported to the Bradley County Jail, where he is currently still in custody.

Three Arrested for Theft and Burglary Spree

Press Release
CLEVELAND, TN. (December 1, 2021) — Over the last several weeks, the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office received multiple reports of thefts and burglaries in the North West area of the county.
Upon investigation, multiple search warrants were served and evidence was obtained to link several of the crimes together. BCSO Criminal Investigations Division detectives were able to identify Jeffery Griffith, Tiffany Layne, and Matthew Layne as suspects in one of the burglaries. The stolen property that was located during the searches has since been returned to the victims.
Jeffery Griffith was arrested for Aggravated Burglary and Theft Over $10,000. Tiffany Layne was also arrested for Aggravated Burglary, and Theft Over $10,000. Matthew Layne was arrested on multiple warrants for Aggravated Burglary, two counts of Theft Over $10,000, two counts of Theft Over $2,500, Theft Under $1,000, and Probation Violation.
Prior to their arrest, Jeffery Griffith and Matthew Layne were included on BCSO’s Top 10 Most Wanted list. The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office would like to recognize the BCSO Criminal Investigations Division for working so efficiently to solve these crimes. If you have information that would aid in the capture of any other fugitive, please call The Criminal Investigations Division at 423-728-7336.

Two Charged in Connection with Cleveland TN Bank Robbery

Press Release
On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, a joint investigation between the Cleveland Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation resulted in the arrests of two individuals in connection with the robbery of Southern Heritage Bank on November 24, 2021. Marcus Edward Monday, a 22-year-old sex offender out of Knoxville, was arrested and charged with Aggravated Robbery, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Violation of the Sex Offender Registry. Brittany Lashay Moses, age 22, resident of Cleveland, was arrested and charged with Accessory after the Fact and Attempted Tampering with Evidence.
The quick apprehension of the suspect would not have been possible without the assistance and cooperation between the Cleveland Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, and the 10th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office.

Career criminal arrested for crime spree in Bradley County

News, Press Release
crime spree

CLEVELAND, TN. (August 19, 2021) — Beginning on July 14, 2021, the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office began having a rash of thefts and auto thefts reported across the county. Investigators were able to identify Richard Devin Waddle as a suspect in multiple cases. It was determined that he had recently moved to this area from Georgia after being released from prison. It was also discovered that he was a convicted sex offender in Georgia and had not reported his move to Tennessee. During multiple attempts to arrest Mr. Waddle, he evaded arrest on foot and he once attempted to hit a deputy with a stolen vehicle.

On August 19, 2021, Bradley County patrol deputies responded to an auto theft report in the 64 Highway area. While on scene, they were able to identify Richard Waddle as the suspect in that case.

Within an hour of the report, detectives located the vehicle at a residence inside of the city limits. At that time, Officers from the Cleveland Police Department Patrol Division, the Cleveland Police Department Crime Suppression Unit, the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office Patrol, and the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, responded to the location and had all other occupants of the house come outside.

Waddle refused to come outside and was taken into custody with the assistance of a Cleveland Police Department K9. He was arrested on outstanding warrants for the following charges listed below and additional new charges of Aggravated Assault on an Officer, Felony Evading, and Felony Vandalism, are pending.

  • Failure to Appear on Schedule 1 for Resale
  • Burglary
  • Theft over $60,000
  • 2 counts of Theft over $10,000
  • 3 counts of Theft over $2,500
  • 1 count of Theft over $1,000
  • 2 counts of Theft under $1,000
  • 2 counts of Vandalism
  • 2 counts of Resisting Arrest
  • Cruelty to Animals
  • Criminal Impersonation
  • Alteration of VIN

Sheriff Steve Lawson stated “It is apparent Mr. Waddle came here with an intent to commit crimes against our citizens. As I have previously stated, Bradley County has zero tolerance for thieves. The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office and Cleveland Police Department, along with detectives from both departments, did a phenomenal job of apprehending Mr. Waddle, as he absolutely needed to be held accountable for his actions.”

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Man arrested on burglary and theft charges

News, Press Release
On April 12th, 2021 at approximately 4:45 a.m., BCSO deputies responded to a prowler call in the Red Hill Valley Road area. Responding patrol deputies quickly located and detained a suspect, 30-year-old Perry Dale Walker.
Numerous investigators responded to the scene and began a further investigation. Walker was found to have been involved in a burglary to a barn, five auto burglaries and six thefts that occurred overnight from April 11th to April 12th. It was also discovered that Walker had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for violation of state probation for Aggravated Burglary and Theft.
In addition to Violation of Probation, Walker was taken into custody on six charges of Theft Under $1000, five
charges of Auto Burglary and one charge of Burglary.
Walker is currently in custody at the Bradley County Jail.

Update: All inmates recovered from COVID-19

News, Press Release
asymptomatic test
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. – Following 14 days of quarantine, all inmates in the Bradley County Jail who contracted COVID-19 have fully recovered. These inmates have been cleared by the Tennessee Health Department to return to their traditional pods to continue serving time.
Following a voluntary round of COVID-19 testing in mid-June, 33 inmates at the Bradley County Jail tested a-symptomatic positive for COVID-19 and were immediately placed in a pre-designated quarantine pod. During each inmate’s 14-day quarantine, they received treatment from the jail’s medical staff and had his/her temperature checked twice daily. All COVID-positive inmates remained a-symptomatic through the duration of their respective quarantines. As of 10:00 p.m. on Monday, July 6, all inmates who tested negative by the Bradley County Jail’s medical staff completed their 14-day quarantine and have each returned to their traditional pods.
“Because we took early action to implement thorough COVID procedures in our jail at the beginning of this pandemic, we were prepared for our first outbreak,” says Sheriff Steve Lawson. “Had we not prepared for this as early as we did, I believe this outbreak would have looked much different. I am very thankful to report that all 33 of our COVID-positive inmates have fully recovered and can return to the general populace of our jail. I am also very appreciative of the Tennessee and Bradley County Health Departments for working closely with us through this and to the medical staff in our jail for staying on top it as well as they have.”

 

Original Press Release Below: 

BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. – All inmates at the Bradley County Jail have been offered testing for COVID-19, returning with 32 asymptomatic positive test results. Additionally, seven corrections officers and one contracted employee have tested positive and will remain on medical leave until they are well and return with a negative COVID-19 test.

Since June 10, when the first corrections officer tested a-symptomatic positive, leadership of the Bradley County Jail have worked closely with Quality Correctional Health Care to offer COVID-19 tests to all inmates. These tests were conducted on June 17, with 32 a-symptomatic positive cases confirmed (meaning that at the time of the testing, none had a fever or showed any symptoms). The inmates who tested positive have been reassigned to a designated pod for quarantine and are being monitored by the jail’s medical staff.

All jail employees have been directed to get tested as well. Currently, seven corrections officers and one contracted employee have tested positive and have been directed by the Bradley County Health Department or their personal physician to quarantine. These employees will remain on medical leave until they are well and return with a negative COVID-19 test.

“Given the circumstances, I believe that we prevented the spread of this virus in our jail as long we possibly could have,” says Sheriff Steve Lawson. “After the first corrections officer tested positive, it was only right for us to offer testing to each and every one of our inmates.”

The jail’s medical staff will continue to screen all incoming inmates and will administer COVID-19 tests to any inmates who show symptoms. A mandatory PPE policy continues to be in effect for any employees who enter the jail and regular cleanings will remain on an on-going schedule.

Sheriff Lawson goes on to say: “Since the beginning of this pandemic, we have taken every precaution that our resources would allow. Although the virus has begun presenting itself in our jail, we will continue to do everything we can to proactively slow the spread and protect the health of our employees and inmates.”

Bradley County law enforcement create accountability initiative: Tag Me Out

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Tag me out

BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. – The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, Cleveland TN Police Department, and Charleston Police Department have come together to devise an accountability initiative called TAG ME OUT. This initiative will be adopted by the training divisions of the affiliated agencies, complimenting the anti-discrimination training already set in place. The TAG ME OUT mission statement and primary purpose are as follows:

MISSION STATEMENT

The law enforcement agencies of Bradley County have collaborated to establish an accountability initiative called TAG ME OUT as a united effort to compliment professional community relationships and to ensure ethical protection to ALL citizens. TAG ME OUT is a joint effort between the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, Cleveland Police Department, and Charleston Police Department to enforce accountability and responsibility among the law enforcement officers of their respective jurisdictions.

PRIMARY PURPOSE

The purpose of TAG ME OUT is to ensure that the law enforcement officers of Bradley County are following their training to provide ethical protection and safety to all citizens, regardless of circumstances or representation. It will also serve to empower officers with shared accountability to conduct all work-related interactions with excellence and respect for humanity. Should an officer from any of the involved agencies observe another officer acting out of heightened emotion or treating a citizen in any way that is inhuman, he or she is to physically “tag” that officer out and assume control of the situation.

Bradley County Sheriff’s Office Most Wanted List

News, Press Release
Most Wanted

BRADLEY COUNTY, TN – The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office published it’s Most Wanted List and asks anyone who has any information to contact them.

“If you have any information that would aid in the capture of these fugitives, please call 423-728-7336 (Criminal Investigation Division tip line) or leave us an anonymous tip on tip411.com,” stated the sheriff’s office Facebook Page.

UPDATE: MARK RYMER HAS BEEN CAPTURED

Mark Rymer

After investigating a residential burglary, BCSO authorities located and arrested Mark Rymer, one of Bradley County’s Most Wanted on outstanding warrants. Gregory Letsingers (AKA Gregory Caldwell), who was also involved in the burglary, was arrested by Cleveland Police Department.

On May 17 of 2020, Bradley County Sheriff’s Office deputies and detectives responded to a residential burglary in southern Bradley County, where the victim advised an SUV had quickly fled from his driveway when he arrived. Victim also advised that his home had been broken into with several items missing. After conducting interviews, detectives learned that there was a pickup truck present at the scene as well.

Four days later, on May 21, Cleveland TN Police Department Officers arrested Gregory Letsinger (AKA Gregory Caldwell) during another burglary on Adkisson Drive. The truck he was using to commit the burglary matched the description of the one seen at the previous burglary. BCSO detectives responded to the scene on Adkisson Drive and recovered some of the stolen property in the truck from the initial residential burglary. Letsinger was charged and arrested for Aggravated Burglary and Theft over $2500.

On the same day as Letsinger/Caldwell’s arrest, further investigation led to a search warrant being obtained for Mark Rymer’s residence on Lead Mine Valley Road. During the execution of that search warrant the SUV described by the victim as committing the residential burglary was located along with multiple other items stolen from that burglary. A Penske trailer stolen from Chattanooga with the VIN numbers removed was located during the search warrant as well. Other items stolen from a separate theft in Chattanooga were also located at the residence along with a resale amount of marijuana. Warrants were issued on Mark Rymer for Aggravated Burglary, two counts of Theft over $2500, Theft over $1000, Alteration of VIN, and Possession of Schedule VI (marijuana) for Resale.

On May 29, Rymer was located by authorities from the BCSO Fugitive Division and Patrol Division at a residence on Wilhoit Drive. He was arrested without incident and booked on the outstanding warrants.

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