Tenn. Man allegedly steals truck from park and ride

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Union County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO) apprehended Jason Burton, 33, of Chattanooga, Tenn. for reportedly stealing a Chevrolet pick-up truck and trying to break into the Nottely Market.

Burton is suspected of taking Chevy from the park and ride, located next to McDonalds and the 4-lane, during the early morning hours of Feb. 4, 2020. He then proceeded to drive the vehicle to Nottely Market, where he unsuccessfully attempted to break-in.

Security camera footage captured Burton walking around the building. He ditched the truck at the market and left.

UCSO put a notice out for the suspect on Facebook around 4:30 p.m., and by 6 p.m., Burton had been located at the Dollar General in Ivy Log.

Deputy Lt. Daren Osborn arrested Burton and charged him with felony theft by taking and misdemeanor criminal trespassing. Burton’s bond is set at 12,000.00.

According to Georgia Code, criminal trespassing occurred when an individual knowingly and without permission enters another’s property for an unlawful purpose. It also applied when a person intentionally damages property without permission of up to $500 and “maliciously interferes with the possession or use of the property.”

O.C.G.A. 16-8-2 stated theft by taking transpires when an individual unlawfully takes or is in possession of any property of another with intention of depriving owner of said property.

Please remember everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.