Man Can't Hide From The Law, Even Under A Mattress

The old saying you can run but you can't hide held true for one Cannon County man this week.

Cannon County Sheriff's Deputy Patrick Fann took out a warrant against Justin Aaron Taggart, 922 Parker Hill Rd., Bradyville, for driving on a revoked license, 5th offense, on July 22. On July 20, Fann had observed Taggart get behind the wheel of a maroon Ford Taurus in the parking lot behind the Cannon County Election Commission Office. Taggart drove out of the parking lot and west on West High Street, according to Fann's report. Fann was working security at the election office at the time.

On July 26, Deputy Randy Neal received a phone call from the Cannon County 911 Center about a tip they received about Taggert being at Southridge Apartment C7. Neal along with Deputy Eric Moss went to the location to see if they could make contact with Taggart.

Upon arrival Neal knocked on the door and spoke with a female subject who stated the deputies could look around inside the apartment. During the search the deputies found Taggart in a bedroom under a mattrew on the bed. Taggart was placed under arrest and taken to jail.

• On July 23 Deputy Anthony Young was dispatched to Cooper Hollow Road. While driving to the address, he observed a black passenger car in front of him driving erratically and extremely slow. After seeing the vehicle cross the lines on the opposite side of the road three times, Young called dispatch to run a check on the license plate on the vehicle.

Young learned the license plate was expired, and pulled the vehicle, a 2002 Chevy Cavalier, over.

Young asked the driver for her vehicle registration and driver's license. He observed the subject was not acting in a normal manner. Show showed Young a valid registration for the vehicle. She said she did not have a driver's license, that it had been revoked for DUI. Young verified this information through dispatch.

Young then noticed that the subject, Sara Ann Simmons, 206 S. Clinch St., Woodbury, was acting strangely. He requested she exit the car and take a field sobriety test. She consented as past two tests without difficulty. Young also searched the car and found nothing suspicious or of an illegal nature.

Young placed Simmons under arrest for driving on a revoked license and had her vehicle impounded at the Cannon County Sheriff's Office. She was transported to the Cannon County Jail and was served a notice of property seizure for a 2002 black Chevy Cavalier. She was released on bond.

• Charles Eugene Rowland, 11390 Jim Cummings Hwy., Bradyville, reported the theft of a Cowl induction hood from his 1996 Chevrolet Silverado Z71 on July 22. Howland told Deputy Reed Bryson that two unidentified subjects were on his property the day before and he ran them off. Bryson found one single print during his investigation. It was also discovered that the handle had been pulled from the driver's side door. Total loss and damage was estimated at $1,001.

On July 21, Deputy Reed Bryson was dispatched to the same address for a report of a possible theft. He spoke with a neighbor who stated the subjects were in the lot next to Toy Denny Rd. Neal also spoke with Gene Howland's stepson, who stated that the two subjects ran into a yard on Toy Denny Rd. Neal canvassed the area but was unable to make contact the the subjects.

Neal returned to the sheriff's office and called Glenda Howland and asked her to make contact with the witnesses and have them contact the sheriff's office.

• Otha Moore Jr. filed a complaint about someone driving through his yard on July 22. He told Deputy Reed Bryson he left his residence around 4 p.m. and went to a neighbor's house. Upon his return approximately two hours later he found his door open and it appeared someone had driven through his yard. Bryson was unable to find any signs of a vehicle. Moore requested extra patrol for his residence.

• Richard McLaughlin, 47 Curlee Church Rd., Bradyville, reported the theft of a vehicle license plate on July 22. He told Deputy Tommy Barker he was in his yard earlier that day putting up a run for his dog when he noticed the plate to his wrecked Jeep was missing. McLaughlin said this is the second time his plates were stolen in the past few months. Barker faxed a copy of his report to Cannon County Dispatch for the license plate number (DVA-815) to be entered into NCIC.

• Deputy Steve McMillen was dispatched to Curlee Cemetery twice, once on July 23 and again on July 25, in regard to a report of dogs at large. On July 23 McMillen was unable to make contact with the dogs or the owner. On July 25 he made contact with the owner, James Rowland, 179 Curlee Rd., Bradyville. Rowland stated he did own the beagles. He placed he dogs in a pin while McMillen was there. James advised McMillen that people often stop at the cemetery late at night. McMillen said he would arrange for extra patrol of the area.

• Deputies Anthony Young and Steve McMillen were dispatched to 115 Meadbrook Dr. on July 24 to serve an arrest warrant on Thomas Coleman, 1692 Petty Gap Rd., Woodbury, who was staying there. Upon arrival the homeowner told Young that Thomas was not there. Young asked to search the home and in doing so found Coleman in a bedroom. Coleman was placed under arrest, taken to the jail, and booked for violation of probation.

• Deputy Anthony Young received a call from Jeffrey Mullins, 7467 Burks Hollow Rd., Christiana, on July 25. Mullins told Young he owned a rental property at 1894 Petty Gap Rd., Woodbury. He said it has been rented to Walter Bess. Mullins said when Bess had vacated the property he had thrown a lot of garbage onto an adjoining property. The dumped garbage included a mattress and several other large pieces of trash. Mullins said he wanted to have Bess prosecuted. Mullins stated he did not own the property onto which the trash was thrown.

• Stacy Odell Baines, 792 West Main St., Auburntown, went to the sheriff's department on July 27 to make a report of the theft of a gun. He told Deputy Reed Bryson that the last time is saw the gun was approximately one prior to the date he found it missing (July 22). He valued the gun, a North American Arms revolver, at approximately $200.