Homeowner Captures Burglar

The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office has charged three people in an investigation that they say clears nine home burglaries in the city and county covering several weeks.

Friday night patrol deputies responded to Old Parksville Trail after a homeowner and his wife returned and found an intruder in a bedroom. A scuffle with the suspect ensued during which the homeowner received minor injuries but was able to subdue the suspect and hold him until BCSO deputies arrived.

Deputies took custody of 19-year-old Zackery Nathaniel Lee Dockery from the homeowner. Further investigation over the weekend resulted in multiple counts of burglary and theft and the identification of an additional suspect.

Sheriff Tim Gobble said patrol deputies and detectives are to be commended for their work on the case. They worked hard to track down an accomplice who fled in a vehicle. They then followed up with Criminal Investigations Division to link the nine burglaries with losses over $116,000 to the suspects.

Also charged are Dockery’s uncle, 35-year-old Robert Gene Rogers of Athens, and a 16 year-old juvenile.

The thefts involved primarily gold jewelry along with some electronics, and video game systems. Residences burglarized were located on Lakeview Drive, No Pone Road, Geiger Road, Moore Circle, Pineview Drive, Railroad Street in Charleston, Old Parksville Trail, and two locations on Bates Pike. The string of crimes started in mid-September and continued until Friday.

Some of the stolen property was recovered from the Hiwassee River by BCSO diver Deputy Bo Collins and Bradley County Fire-Rescue diver Stoney Matthews and efforts are continuing to locate additional items.

Dockery, of Bates Pike, is charged with 9 counts of aggravated burglary, 2 counts of theft over $10,000, 4 counts of theft over $1,000, 2 counts of theft under $500, and single counts of aggravated assault and theft over $60,000.

Rogers was arrested late Tuesday for aggravated burglary and theft over $1,000.

The juvenile is charged in Juvenile Court with taking part in the burglary on Old Parksville Trail.

All residents are advised this type of jewelry theft has recently trended upward in Bradley County and appears to be driven by the current high price of gold.

Gold dealers are reminded they are required by state law to file timely reports of sales and purchases of used jewelry and gold with local law enforcement agencies. Items they purchase cannot be altered and must be retained in their original form for at least 30 days.