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Trenton Police Capture Man Accused Of Stealing A Summerville Truck

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A Summerville man is in a Chattanooga hospital after fleeing from a Trenton Police officer Wednesday morning.

A Trenton Police Department cop spotted a blue 1989 Chevrolet truck on a side street and thought it was a suspicious. A suspect immediately fled in the truck, which turned out to be stolen from Summerville.

“They chased the driver into Hamilton County, Tennessee,” Summerville Police Detective Ty Hutchins said.

The Trenton police officer finally got the driver to stop after a crash involving the truck and patrol car. The officer was fine but the suspect, 39-year-old Curtis Joshua Ragsdale, was taken to an area hospital.

“We have warrants on Ragsdale and the Trenton Police Department will have charges,” Det. Hutchins said.

Ragsdale narrowly escaped being caught stealing the truck from Corner Garage in Summerville on Halloween.

Deputy Corey Fielding stopped the truck near Lyerly when he noticed it did not have taillights. Ragsdale said he was doing some work on the vehicle for the owner.

“The type of work Ragsdale specified to me that he was performing was air conditioning work. I did observe a bottle of Freon in the passenger seat of the vehicle which was consistent with Ragsdale statement,” Deputy Fielding stated.

The driver also indicated he worked for Corner Garage and confessed he’s been caught twice for stealing vehicles.

The deputy then attempted to call the truck’s owner. Then the deputy asked another deputy to travel to Wildlife Lake Road and talk with the owner. The other deputy could not find the owner.

“While on scene, Ragsdale was not able to start the vehicle due to the fact the key had been broken off in the ignition switch, after several minutes Mr. Ragsdale was able to start the vehicle and drive away from the scene,” Deputy Fielding stated.

The next day, Corner Garage owner David Fletcher called cops after noticing a blue Chevrolet C-1500 missing from the lot. It belonged to Richard Herrod.

“[Fletcher] states that the vehicle had just been repaired by his shop and was ready for the owner, Richard Herrod, to pick it up. [Fletcher] still holds the key to the vehicle. Visible tire marks were shown in the grass area showing the direction of the vehicle’s exit,” Officer Phillip Cox stated.

After hearing of the theft, Deputy Fielding notified Summerville Det. Hutchins about the traffic stop the night before. Inv. Hutchins took warrants out for the driver. Deputy Fielding’s body worn camera captured the encounter with the driver.

In Summerville, Ragsdale is charged with illegally entering an automobile and theft by taking, according to Det. Hutchins.

6 Comments

  1. Jim on November 13, 2019 at 11:01 am

    Sounds like deputy fielding didn’t do his job to good . AC work that time of year if I Remember it was really cold the night of Halloween

    • Simon on November 14, 2019 at 5:19 am

      It sounds like the Deputy did his job. He conducted a good traffic stop. He recorded the traffic stop. He questioned the driver and documented the drivers identity. He made every effort to contact the truck owner. The Deputy did not violate the THIEF’S rights. The Deputy reported the traffic stop when he discovered that the truck was stolen. Now Law Enforcement have a suspect.

  2. anthony s reynolds on November 13, 2019 at 2:22 pm

    Why was he not charged with Grand theft?

    • Simon on November 14, 2019 at 5:00 am

      Grand Theft Auto is not a charge in the State of Georgia. Theft by Taking is the correct charge.

  3. Jim on November 15, 2019 at 1:37 pm

    And it appears that deputy let the truck drive off with no taillights the Reason for the stop ?

  4. Dan McColley on December 23, 2019 at 2:31 pm

    Is there an update? Is Ragsdale in custody?

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