On September 18, 2023 a City Officer responded to the Crossville Police Department in reference to a man wanting to report a theft. Upon his arrival he made contact with a male who stated that on the same day at approximately 10:21 a.m. USPS delivered two packages to his business on West Ave.

He further stated at approximately 10:38 a.m. an unknown male and female walked into the parking lot of his business who he had on recorded video. 

The officer asked the man what was in the packages to which he responded that one of the packages contained a Mushroom Coffee Valued at $40.00 and Radeon RX550 Video card valued at $130.00. The other package contained two Meshtastic T-Echo 915 Megahertz radios valued at $500 a piece. The total value of the stolen property $1,170.00.

The man then allowed the officer to review the camera footage he had saved on his phone and the officer observed a male and female walk in the parking lot of the business. The male walked over where the packages were and walked around the packages. The officer observed the male asking the female do you want these. The male then stated I do not know, a lot of people know my face. The male then looked at the camera and waved. He then grabbed the two packages and left the property with the female. 

The officer gathered photos from the man’s phone and passed them along to other city units to help identify the male. The initial officer was able to identify the female who he had previous encounters with. The male was identified as Mr. Benjamin Jackson (DOB 08-01-1998) by a second officer who had previous encounters with him. Both officers reviewed body camera footage of the previous encounter with Mr. Benjamin Jackson. Mr. Jackson was observed to be wearing the same shirt from the  previous encounter during the events on September18, 2023. 

 A warrant was then written on Mr. Benjamin Jackson (DOB 08-01-1998) for theft.

The next day officers continued the investigation of the whereabouts of Mr. Jackson and the female and gathered information that both of them would be staying on Obed Street.  Officers made contact with the home owner and when she opened the door the female was observed and asked to step outside. While she was exiting officers observed Mr. Benjamin Jackson getting out of bed in the living room area and asked him to step outside as well. An officer read the female her Miranda rights which she acknowledged and agreed to speak with him. 

Before speaking with Mr. Jackson he was read his Miranda rights and he stated that he did not want to answer any questions. Due to warrants being written on Mr. Jackson the day prior officers placed Mr. Jackson into custody. While in custody the female stated to Mr. Jackson if you tell them where the stuff is they will let you go to which officers stated that it did not work that way. 

The female stated that one of the things taken would be in the residence beside the kitchen sink. Officers then allowed Mr. Jackson to speak with the female. After speaking with her, he stated that one of the things he had taken would be in his gray backpack that was in the residence. The home owner allowed officers to retrieve the backpack. Mr. Jackson gave consent to search the backpack and in the backpack they located a clear closed container with black foam and upon opening it they located a black antenna. 

The female spontaneously uttered that she and Mr. Jackson were on a scavenger hunt and that was when they found the packages and they believed that they were meant for them. Mr. Jackson agreed with  her statement. Officers then walked Mr. Jackson to a patrol vehicle. While placing him in the vehicle he stated that if he went to jail he would not be able to the get back the property he took and they did not have to take him to jail. 

The female went back into the residence to retrieve another item that was taken. While in the residence she stated that it appeared to be missing and she did not know where it was. She also stated that the items that Mr. Jackson had taken were sold to another party and named the individual.

Officers  then transported Mr. Jackson to the Justice Center where he was served with a warrant for theft of property.

On September 20, 2023 an officer pulled into the Sheriff’s office and was flagged down by the aforementioned female and another male. She stated that she had stolen property that Benjamin Jackson had taken from West Ave. and gave the officer a Radeon RX550 in the box along with a part of the Meshtastic T- Echo 915 Megahertz radio. She stated that there was more stuff but she did not have it. She stated that another female had it, identified her, and stated she would attempt to get it from her somewhere on Genesis Rd. As of the writing of this story the female has not contacted police back in regards to the other property. The returned items were placed into evidence at the Crossville Police Dept.