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UPDATE Thursday, 3:00 pm:
Warrant Division deputies found Keith A. Clark today at a location on Old Benton Pike in eastern Bradley County. Clark was being sought on felony warrants for theft over $250,000 and aggravated burglary.
Detectives conducting the investigation of a theft last month on Bucks Pocket Road took out warrants for Clark and a cousin, Myrtie Franklin Keith, 32, earlier this week. The loss has been placed at $260,000, making it one of the largest to occur in Bradley County in quite some time. Electrical wiring was ripped out of seven chicken houses and a three story home. In addition, an emergency power generator and two heating and air conditioning units were stolen. Clark was brought to the Bradley County jail where he was processed and will be held without bond until an initial appearance in General Sessions court on Friday.
Original Release...
Property crimes detectives have a suspect in custody and are asking the public to help them track down a second person who has been linked through investigation to one of the largest thefts in Bradley County in a number of years. Both suspects have been charged with a class A felony, theft over $250,000, under a statute enacted this year by the General Assembly that went into effect on July 1st. Myrtie Franklin Keith III, a.k.a. "Bubba", 32, and Keith A. Clark, 37, are believed to be the first to be charged under the new statute that carries a minimum term of 15 years in prison. The two have been implicated in the theft of a generator, electrical wiring and household goods from 541 Bucks Pocket Road. On September 11 the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office was contacted to begin an investigation into the theft of a $30,000 power generator, two heating and air conditioning units, and the stripping of electrical wiring from the interior walls of an unoccupied residential structure. The theft occurred sometime after August 1st and resulted in a loss of $260,000. Keith was arrested this morning at the Bradley County Judicial Center on warrants for theft and aggravated burglary. He is being held without bond pending a court appearance on Tuesday. Clark, who is Keith’s cousin, is being actively sought for the same offenses. The sheriff’s office has authorized a reward of up to $250 for information leading to his arrest. He is described as a white male, balding, who is known to have facial hair at times. He has several Chattanooga and Bradley County addresses and could be driving a mid 90’s extended cab full size GMC or Chevrolet pickup truck. It is black with gray trim and displays Georgia license, BYR – 2407. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office by calling 9-1-1 or 728-7336, or your nearest law enforcement agency. As part of the investigation detectives have been able to recover the generator. They wish to acknowledge the assistance of Keasler Salvage Company for their cooperation which greatly enhanced the success of this investigation.  Myrtie Franklin Keith III  Keith A Clark |