Elizabethton Police Report Surge in Shoplifting and Public Intoxication Arrests

Elizabethton Police Department Reports Recent Arrests

Hey there, folks! If you’re in Elizabethton, we’ve got some updates from the local police department to share with you. It seems like there’s been quite a bit of activity lately, especially at good ol’ Walmart and around town. Let’s jump right into it!

Shoplifting Shenanigans

It appears Walmart is becoming a hot spot for shoplifting incidents. Just this month, several people were caught trying to sneak out items without paying. For instance, on September 23, Timothy J. Arnold Jr. was cited for failing to scan items worth $25.40. Arnold claimed it was an accident, but he still has a date with the court on October 30.

And the very same day, on September 21, Jeffery O. Payne was issued a criminal summons after attempting to shoplift items totaling $137.05 from Walmart, also scheduled for court on October 21. On the same day, Heather Renea Garland was caught trying to steal some smaller items worth $23.59 using self-checkout. She’ll be back in court on October 21 as well!

Public Intoxication Incidents

Meanwhile, the police also dealt with some cases of public intoxication. Just a day before Arnold’s incident, Edward Wayne Guinn found himself in hot water after harassing customers at Wendy’s on Broad Street. Officers arrived and quickly noticed he was under the influence of alcohol. Guinn was unable to pass sobriety tests and now has an upcoming court date on October 21.

The same Edward Wayne Guinn had a run-in with the law just a day earlier on September 19 for public intoxication after he tried to buy alcohol while clearly drunk. He’s really piling up those court appearances, huh?

More Shoplifting Woes

On September 18, another shoplifting incident involved Eric Charles Bowman, who was cited for $170.85 worth of stolen goods at Walmart and is now facing a court date set for September 30. Then there’s James T. Blackburn III, who didn’t just stop at public intoxication; he also faced charges of criminal impersonation after police found him disoriented on Milligan Highway, with court on September 30.

Oh, but wait—Heather Renea Garland was also in the spotlight again that day for a second shoplifting attempt, this time involving Pokémon cards. It seems she got a bit too creative by altering barcodes! She too will be in court on September 30.

Other Noteworthy Incidents

There was even a hit-and-run case where Gage Malik Lightsey hit a parked car then drove off, only to be later discovered by police who found him intoxicated. He’s now facing multiple charges, including DUI. Such reckless behavior, right?

In summary, it’s been quite a busy few weeks for the Elizabethton Police Department, with a mix of shoplifting incidents and public intoxication cases keeping officers on their toes. If you know someone involved, remember that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

And there you have it, Elizabethton! Stay safe out there, and remember to keep an eye on those wallets when shopping!