The News Sentinel
TAZEWELL, Tenn. — A decorated firefighter has been arrested and charged with theft.
David Middleton, 21, of Tazewell recently shared in Firefighter of the Year honors from the Tazewell-New Tazewell Fire Department. But last week, he and another man, Shawn Gibbons, 20, were arrested by Claiborne County Deputy Tim Shrout. Both were charged with theft of property valued at more than $1,000, and using a police scanner to avoid arrest.
Court documents do not identify the item alleged to have been stolen from Greg Helton of New Tazewell, Tenn. An affidavit states that the two suspects attempted to sell the item at Graceway Metal Recycling. Shawn Abner, a manager at the business, said the item was a device used for packing earth. It is commonly called a “sheep’s foot” or tamping roller.
Abner said he became suspicious because the two men were in a hurry to close the deal and leave. Abner said he knows Helton, and that Helton had such a device. Abner said he wrote down the license plate number of the suspects’ vehicle and called Helton.
“Inside (their) vehicle was a scanner used to intercept the authorities’ every move” to evade arrest, Shrout wrote in the affidavit following their arrests.
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