Statement from Sheriff Nick Welden:
“On Friday, March 5th, we asked for the publics help on our Facebook page about a theft that happened at Pine Ridge Baptist Church. And thanks to a very observant business owner in Rainsville, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division were able to identify and obtain arrest warrants for Eric Stewart of Soddy Daisy, TN and Gregory Summers of Hixson, TN.
The business owner stated that she recognized the suspects after seeing our Facebook post regarding the theft. She stated that the subjects entered her store wearing the same clothing and driving the same vehicle just a few hours after the theft was committed. She got the license plate number due to her suspecting the subjects of shoplifting in her store.
Without that vital piece of evidence, this case may have gone unsolved. We want to extend our thanks to everyone who made submissions regarding this case. It is a shame that we must have surveillance systems outside of our places of worship, but unfortunately, due to subjects such as these, it is very often a necessity.
With the prices of the precious metals contained inside the converters rising, the thefts will also continue to rise, so we ask all churches, car dealerships, etc. to routinely check their vehicles for missing catalytic converters. Thanks to information sharing technology, the Dade County Sheriff’s Office observed and stopped the suspect vehicle in Dade County Georgia on March 6th. Gregory Summers and a female were arrested on drug charges by Dade County Sheriff’s Office.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office is seeking extradition on Gregory Summers and are currently working with authorities in Tennessee to arrest Eric Stewart. We would like to thank Soddy Daisy Police Department and the Dade County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance and being vigilant.”
