MERCER SHERIFF
Dec. 4
• RECEIVING OR TRANSFERRING STOLEN PROPERTY: Cpl. S.A. Sommers responded to reports of a burglary at a Princeton residence. A complainant reported that a male had entered the residence and stolen a 2.5 Karat diamond ring with a value of $20,000. The accused had reportedly then attempted to sell the ring to E-Z Sales and Pawn. The deputy made contact with the owner of E-Z Sales and Pawn, who reported that he had bought a ring identical to the stolen ring per an agreement with the complainant to retrieve the ring back for her and be reimbursed for the cost of the sale. After the ring was obtained and investigation made, Ray Bryant Cheatwood III, of Princeton, was arrested for receive/transfer of stolen property.
• POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER: Dep. J.R. Coburn conducted a traffic stop after observing a vehicle cross the center line on Route 20, near the Allen’s Supermarket. Upon questioning the driver and two male passengers, Coburn and Dep. J.E. Coulter, who assisted with the traffic stop, discovered that one of the male passengers had an active warrant for probation violation in Oregon. After obtaining consent to search the vehicle, the deputies allegedly discovered a bag containing 27.1 grams of marijuana. One of the vehicle's passengers, Robert Wayne Taylor Sr., 51, of Shady Spring, was arrested for possession with intent to deliver.
Dec. 5
• FUGITIVE: Sgt. G.W. Woods responded to Wal-Mart, in Princeton, where the loss prevention department had a subject in office for shoplifting. After running the subject through the system, it was discovered that he had a fugitive warrant pending in the state of Virginia. The subject, Robert Lee Dempsey, 29, of Bluefield was issued a citation for shoplifting and placed under arrest as a fugitive.
Dec. 8
• OBSTRUCTING, RESISTING ARREST: Sgt. Cary and Dep. J.D. Gills responded to a complaint of a possible domestic situation in the Grimes Mobile Home Park, in Bluefield. Upon arrival, the deputies heard yelling from the residence. In the home, furniture was broken and in disarray on the floor, along with broken glass and trash. Inside the residence, the deputies spoke with James Gordon Davis, 30, who appeared to be intoxicated and had a strong smell of alcohol on his breath. When Davis was asked to step outside the residence for questioning, he refused before complying upon further instruction. Outside, the subject continued to be defiant with the officers, becoming belligerent and verbally abusive before eventually taking a stance as if he was going to fight. The deputies restrained Davis and placed him under arrest for obstruction.
• FAILURE TO APPEAR; POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE: Deputy E.P. Parks and Dep. J.R. Coburn drove to the Danieley Mobile Home Park, in Princeton, in response to a Be On The Look Out report for three subjects reported to have grabbed a television from the shelf of the CVS store in Athens and fled with it. At the residence, Coburn walked into a bedroom in which a female appeared to be having a seizure. After a rescue squad was contacted, the woman came out of the seizure. In the room, deputies observed evidence of drug use and a white substance appearing to be crack cocaine. After three subjects were taken in for questioning, it was discovered that James Owen Thornton, 39, of Princeton had a bench warrant out for failing to appear. Thornton was arrested for failure to appear and for shoplifting, conspiracy and receiving/transferring stolen property.
