KPD e-News Release: Felony Theft Suspect Located and Charges are Pending

	Kingsport Police Department 200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660 ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX) http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com
NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT:		Felony Theft Suspect Located and Charges are Pending
DATE:		July 18, 2014

GENERAL NARRATIVE

On July 18, 2014 at approximately 2:30 PM Kingsport Central Dispatch was notified of a shoplifting incident that had just occurred at Wal-Mart, located at 3200 Fort Henry Drive in Kingsport. Kingsport Police Patrol Officers were dispatched to the scene.

Upon their arrival, officers were notified by Wal-Mart Loss Prevention Officers that the suspect, later identified as Darrell Eugene Helton, had stolen a felonious amount of merchandise and fled from the store on foot. The Wal-Mart employees reported losing sight of Mr. Helton as he entered a wooded area near the intersection of Fort Henry Drive and John B. Dennis Highway.

Several K.P.D. Officers responded to the area and set up a perimeter. An extensive search ensued that spanned the next hour and a half. At approximately 4:00 PM, officers searching the area located Mr. Helton at the base of a cliff that was approximately 50 feet in height.

Mr. Helton was conscious and communicating; however, he had suffered significant injuries sustained in a fall. He indicated that he had accidentally fallen from the cliff while navigating the wooded terrain. Sullivan County E.M.S. responded and transported him to Holston Valley Medical Center for treatment.

Mr. Helton was left in the care of medical professionals; however, the felony theft investigation has been turned over to the K.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division, and charges are pending.

SUSPECT INFORMATION
Name	Darrell Eugene Helton
Age	Date of Birth 9/21/1970 43 Years of Age
Race/Gender	White/Male
Residency	507 Prices Grove Road, Lot #3 Rogersville, TN
Charge(s)	Pending