KPD e-News Release: Two Suspects in Custody after Burglary Spree (UPDATE)

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com

15-004520 (Walgreens)

15-004592 (Walgreens)

15-004593 (Kelley’s Package Store)

On March 3, 2015 at approximately 6:00 AM, an employee of Jay Food Mart, located at 1300 East Stone Drive in Kingsport, arrived at work to find that the business had been burglarized. Kingsport Police were immediately called to the scene, and an investigation ensued.

A review of surveillance video footage revealed that approximately 30 minutes earlier that morning, a previously unidentified white male suspect wearing a mask gained entry by throwing a concrete block through the window. Once inside, the suspect stole four packs of cigarettes, a box of expired Little Debbie snacks, 2 cans of Monster Energy Ripper Juice, and a bottle of Mellow Yellow. As the suspect exited with his loot, he placed the Little Debbie snacks on the window frame. A second previously unidentified suspect could be seen reaching back in and collecting them. The total value of the stolen items was $43, while the cost to repair the shattered window will easily exceed that amount.

These suspects have since been positively identified as Mr. King and Mr. Thomas with each being charged with Burglary and Theft Under $500 in this case.

On March 10, 2015 at approximately 7:15 AM, Kingsport Police were summoned to Walgreens, located at 4500 West Stone Drive in Kingsport. Officers spoke with the manager who had found a broken window when he arrived that morning to open the store. A review of surveillance video revealed that the window had been broken out by a suspect, later identified as Jathan Deon Thomas, with a large rock and a piece of broken pavement. Mr. Thomas then entered the store through the broken window and stole 40 packs of Newport Cigarettes ($200 value) and 14 packs of Energizer Lithium batteries ($66 value).

Mr. Thomas has been charged with Burglary and Theft Under $500 in this case.

Mr. King and Mr. Thomas are still under investigation regarding their potential involvement in additional recent burglaries in the Kingsport area.

As previously released:

On March 11, 2015 at 2:26 AM, Kingsport Central Dispatch was notified of a burglary alarm at Kelley’s Package Store, located at 4528 West Stone Drive in Kingsport. Two minutes later, Dispatch was notified of a second burglary alarm at Walgreens, located nearby at 4500 West Stone Drive.

Responding Kingsport Police Patrol Officers to Kelley’s Package store determined that a large rock had been thrown through an exterior glass door. A representative of the business responded and determined that two bottles of Jägermeister liqueur ($26.19 each) and one jar of Ole Smoky Moonshine ($24.99) had been stolen.

Responding officers to Walgreens also located forced entry to the business. Entry had been accomplished by removing a wooden panel that was covering a window that had been broken out during an earlier burglary the previous morning. The store manager responded and determined that an unknown quantity of consumable food and beverage items had been stolen.

K.P.D. Detectives responded to both crime scenes and began a thorough investigation including a review of surveillance video footage. They promptly zeroed in on two suspects, Ian Alexander King and Jathan Deon Thomas, who had already been developed as persons of interest in at least three earlier burglaries committed with similar modus operandi.

With the assistance of the Mount Carmel Police Department, Mr. King and Mr. Thomas were quickly located at 442 Bay Street in Mount Carmel. Stolen property from these and other burglaries was found in plain view inside the garage where the suspects were staying. Both suspects were arrested with each being charged with Burglary (2 counts) and Theft Under $500 (2 counts).

Mr. King and Mr. Thomas were initially transported to the Kingsport City Jail for processing, but have since been transferred to the Hawkins County Jail in Rogersville where they are currently incarcerated awaiting arraignment. As previously mentioned, these individuals have been linked to at least three other recent burglaries in Kingsport with additional charges pending in those cases.

18 Years of Age

Mount Carmel, TN

2) Theft Under $500 (3 counts)

18 Years of Age

1000 University Boulevard, Apartment #F-46

Kingsport, TN

2) Theft Under $500 (4 counts)

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit