Monday, August 19, 2013
Pastor Follows Parking Lot Vandal
A local pastor who noticed someone vandalizing the church parking lot late Saturday was able to follow the suspect and lead law enforcement officers to the location of the vehicle.
Reports filed through the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department show that deputies were dispatched to Panoramic Gospel Church at 410 Highway 20, Summertown, around 11:00 p.m.
Pastor Eric Dwayne Warren reported he had noticed someone in a dark color truck was spinning in circles in the gravel parking lot, slinging gravel and causing damages.
Warren told deputies that the truck engine stalled and he was able to make contact with the driver. He reported that the man appeared to be intoxicated.
He said that while they awaited the arrival of deputies another individual drove into the parking lot, hooked to the man’s vehicle, and drove away. Warren told deputies he was able to follow them to a residence on Rice Lane.
When they arrived at the Rice Lane property, deputies report noticing fresh tire tracks leading through the grass and into a field. They followed the tracks and found an older model Ford truck parked in the field with no one around it.
Deputies spoke with the residents of the property. They reported that they knew nothing about the truck or why it would have been parked on their property.
Utilizing the truck’s vehicle identification number deputies were able to contact the registered owner. He told deputies that he and a friend had swapped vehicles some months prior, and that the friend had later sold the truck to another individual.
Deputies with the department’s Criminal Investigation Division are continuing to investigate the matter. Damages to the church parking lot were estimated to be $200.
