Runaway from Boys Home Admits Trying to Steal a Vehicle

June 24, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A 17 year old runaway from the Timothy Hill Boys Home who broke into several vehicles overnight in the Cookeville Highway area has been taken into custody.

According to Sheriff Patrick Ray the boy left the home on Relax Drive Wednesday night but returned later and was found asleep on the property this morning (Thursday).

“On Wednesday, June 23rd at 9:49 pm, deputies were dispatched to Relax Drive at the Timothy Hill Boys Home in reference to a 17 year old runaway. The boy was last seen at the home at around 8:40 pm. Deputies collected information for a missing person report and patrolled the area looking for the juvenile,” said Sheriff Ray in a prepared statement.

Early this morning, June 24 deputies began getting calls to respond to several homes on Ponder Road, Cookeville Highway, and Briarwood Court where the break-ins had occurred.

“At around 8:45 am, deputies were notified that an employee of the Timothy Hill Boys Home found the runaway asleep on the property. After questioning him, the boy said he was trying to find a vehicle with keys in it so he could leave the state and go to Mississippi. The teen further stated that he went to a residence on Puckett’s Point Road and broke into a garage to steal a vehicle there but found no keys in the automobile. He then ventured to Ponder Road where he found keys in a truck, but it had a straight shift transmission and he could not drive it. After that the boy then went to several homes on Cookeville Highway and Briarwood Court trying to break into automobiles there before he was spotted on Allen’s Ferry Road near Stonegate by a passerby and given a ride back to Relax Drive,” Sheriff Ray continued.

“During these vehicle break-ins, the teen stole money, multiple sets of various keys, and a taser. Some of the sets of keys, money and the taser have been recovered and returned,” Sheriff Ray said.

Juvenile petitions have been taken on the boy for committing delinquent acts and he will appear in Juvenile Court July 7th.

Additional reports are still being received

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