Email |

Man accused of stealing large amount of metals from Bristol business

Published November 20th, 2009 | 0 Comments

Sullivan County authorities arrested a man on Thursday who is accused of stealing more than $1,000 worth of metals from a Bristol business.

According to a Sullivan County Sheriff's Office report, Robert Timothy Payne, 45, 496 Bristol Caverns Highway, lot no. 1, Bristol, Tenn., has been arrested and charged with theft over $1,000 and theft over $500 in addition to a fugitive from justice charge and a violation of community corrections.

Lt. Joe Smelser's report states the charges stems from Payne's alleged theft of four aluminum mag wheels and 2,000 30-inch steel roofing rods from a business at 1122 Highway 44, Bristol.

Patrick Nowski reported break-ins had occurred there between August 12 and August 21. On August 21, Nowski said he saw a black Ford F350 Dually outside. The tag on the suspect vehicle matched one Payne had registered to him, according to Smelser.

At that time, Payne was serving time at the John R. Hay House in Kingsport. He had supplied the Hay House with scrap metal sales tickets from two Bristol scrap metal dealers as proof of income.

On August 26, Payne admitted he'd stolen the steel rods and wheels, according to Smelser's report.

He also claimed two other people had provided the stolen items to him, and that he'd just sold them and kept part of the money.

Discuss This Story

Be the first to comment: Sign In or Create Profile .

To comment, you must register.

Comments are the sole responsibility of the registered user participating in online discussions. You agree not to post comments off topic, abusive, obscene, defamatory, vulgar, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned.

Click here to review our complete user agreement.

Times-News Online on Facebook

Featured Blogger

Sullivan Co. posts residential building permit increase for Q4

By Don Fenley - 1-21-2010

While residential building permits in most of the Tri-Cities region declined during the 4th quarter of 2009 they were up 14.3 percent in Sullivan Coun...

Read Post | Comments (0)