Saturday, April 26, 2008

Iron City Man Catches Theft And Trespassing Charges

   An Iron City man was arrested last weekend after he allegedly stole a railroad rail, as well as metal gates leading to another resident’s field.

   Reports filed through the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department show that an employee of Tennessee Southern Railway, Mt. Pleasant, contacted them regarding a stolen rail. He indicated he had spotted the iron rail, which belonged to the railroad, lying in a yard at 20 Carter Road, Iron City. He indicated it had been taken from an area where the railroad was conducting on-going work.

   When deputies made their way to the home, they found the sixteen-foot iron rail lying in the front yard. They report that someone had made attempts to cut the rail into pieces. Shortly, they report that resident Willie Lee Powell, age 41, and a friend arrived, hauling two twelve-foot metal farm gates in the bed of the 1991 Jeep Comanche truck.

   Deputies advised Powell of his Miranda rights, then questioned him about the iron rail. He told deputies that he had picked up the rail near the railroad tracks, east of Macki Road. He stated that it had been lying there for years, and he “didn’t think it would matter if he took it.”

   When the deputy asked Powell about the metal gates, he stated that a “guy gave him the gates, but he didn’t know his name.” He told deputies that he had found the gates lying on the side of Railroad Bed Road, and that “some guy pulled up and told him he could take them.”

   Deputies soon learned that the gates had been stolen from a property adjacent to 427 Hardin Loop Road. Owner Joseph Magee told deputies that the gates had hung on posts leading into his field road and that he had not given anyone permission to take them.

   Deputies noted that the posts were situated several feet off the roadway and that the property was clearly marked “No Trespassing.”

   Both Magee and officials with Tennessee Southern Railway expressed their intent to prosecute Powell. Powell was placed under arrest on charges of aggravated criminal trespassing and theft of property. He is scheduled to answer the charges through Lawrence County General Sessions Court on May 12.

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