On Monday evening, Dade County deputies were called to a residence in Head River on Lookout  Mountain on a forced entry burglary.

After the deputies processed the scene, a suspect vehicle was developed and a lookout was given for the vehicle. Shortly after, a Dade County deputy located the suspect vehicle and conducted a traffic stop.

The deputy noticed items in the bed of the truck appeared to be the same as reported in the earlier burglary.

James Gary Miller, 21, of Menlo, and Donny Aaron Massey, 22, of Rising Fawn, were arrested on booked on burglary charges.

Both Miller and Massey are currently in the Dade County jail. No bond has been set at this time.

On Nov. 28 Deputy Eric Hartline of the Dade County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle that was driven by Meredith Winsted of Trenton. Consent was given by Winsted to search the vehicle.

With the assistance of Trenton Police Officer Jeff Hartline, Deputy Hartline searched the vehicle. The two officers discovered a checkbook bearing the name of a gentleman from Harrison, Tenn.

The officers contacted dispatch, who in turn contacted Hamilton County regarding the possibility of a stolen checkbook.  It was later confirmed that the checkbook had been reported stolen on Nov. 19, 2009. 

The case and information was given to Detective Shawn Chapa of the Trenton Police Department.

“Due to both officers taking the time to do a good job, my job was made fairly easy,” Chapa said.

When Chapa interviewed Meredith and her brother Jeremy he found out that the two had committed several forgeries in Dade County, as well as, in Hamilton County.

The forgery cases in Hamilton County had been closed due to lack of suspect information, but the actions of the two officers were able to help solve the felony crimes in Trenton and Hamilton County.