DeKalb Man Charged in Cannon County Burglary

A DeKalb County man has been arrested in connection with a recent Cannon County burglary in which over $10,000 worth of items were stolen.

Cannon County Sheriff's Investigator Anthony Young said the burglary occurred on January 6th year at a home on Basham Ridge Road in Woodbury, according to a report on the Cannon Courier website.

Investigator Young arrested Matthew Allen Baker, 1022 Pine Grove Road, Smithville, on March 10.

"I received information in relation to the theft, and after a thorough investigation, determined Baker was allegedly one of the persons involved in the taking of the items," Investigator Young said.

The case remains under investigation and an additional arrest is expected, Young said.

Among the items taken were gold jewelry, guns, knives, a 42-inch flat screen TV, tools, video games and a laptop computer.

In addition to charges of aggravated burglary, theft over $10,000 and criminal trespass, Baker incurred additional charges while he was being booked at the Cannon County Jail. Baker was arrested by DeKalb County Sheriff's deputies and transported to Cannon County.

During that process, Corrections Officer Albert Summers discovered within Baker's personal property a black flashlight. Upon opening the flashlight, Summers observed that the batteries had been removed and replaced with a small plastic baggie. Inside of the baggie was a substance which tested positive for methamphetamine.

Additional charges of possession of a Schedule II drug and introducing contraband into a penal institution were levied against Baker.

Total bond was set at $30,000. Initial court date is May 3.

Department of Safety and Homeland Security to Issue New Driver Licenses, ID Cards

Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons on Tuesday announced the state will soon issue new and improved driver licenses and identification cards. The new license and its updated security features will help combat document fraud and protect the identities of Tennesseans by using the latest credentialing technology. This is the first major revision of Tennessee driver licenses and ID cards since 2003.

“A top priority of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security is safeguarding the identity of Tennessee citizens to prevent identity theft and document fraud,” said Commissioner Gibbons. “The new cards will be the most secure our state has issued to date.”

All current Tennessee licenses and IDs will remain valid until the expiration date; at that time, license holders will apply for a newly-designed card. New card production began on a pilot basis on Tuesday, March 15 in Gallatin. The new cards will begin to roll out across the state starting at driver license stations in the four metropolitan areas (Davidson, Knox, Hamilton, and Shelby Counties) later this month. Statewide implementation of the new card is expected to be completed at all locations within four to six weeks.

“Tennessee driver licenses have not been updated in eight years, and the technology behind them is eight years old,” Gibbons explained. “These new cards utilize the latest technology. They are more secure and are designed to be more difficult to counterfeit, alter, or duplicate,” he stressed.

The driver license and ID cards include several upgraded design and security features, including:

·new banner showcasing Tennessee landmarks and icons;

·new background design;

·enlarged organ donor symbol, when authorized;

·multiple date of birth placements on front and back of the card;

·vertical format to distinguish driving privilege from identification only cards;

·digital portrait and signature, both stored in a permanent database, to easily verify identification;

·lamination, with a tamper resistant coating and holographic designs;

·machine-readable barcodes for law enforcement purposes; and

·applicable class, endorsements, and restrictions printed on back of the card.

“The existing licenses are still valid. There is no need for citizens to get a new license before their existing licenses expire,” stressed Driver Services Director Michael Hogan. “But anyone applying for a new license or renewing an existing license will receive the newly designed format,” he added.

To help protect identities and prevent document fraud, the state of Tennessee requires all new applicants for a driver license or identification card to present the following:

·proof of lawful status in the United States to include U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency or authorized stay in the U.S.;

·proof of identity to include birth certificate, visa, or passport;

· verification of Social Security number with Social Security Administration; and

· proof of Tennessee residency.

Fees for the new driver license and ID will not change. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Driver Services Division annually issues 1.5 million licenses and ID cards to Tennesseans. For more information on the new driver license and ID card or to conduct business online, please visit http://www.tn.gov/safety/dlmain.htm.