Fannin County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Gary Edwards credits uniformed patrol deputies with gathering the information that led to a suspect’s arrest, solved four burglaries, and saw $2,200 in stolen merchandise recovered.
Edwards said he was dispatched to a Macedonia Church Road residence March 30 for a burglary that had occurred.
There had also been a report of a burglary in the Hells Hollow area, and two more burglaries were discovered that had happened about the same time.
A few days later, Edwards said he began receiving reports from deputies who had been doing residential patrols in the area.
“It was due to their diligence and hard work,” the case began coming together, Edwards said.
Then, April 6, investigators received information about a suspicious person in the area where the burglaries happened.
Edwards and Investigations Sergeant J.K. Davenport located Billy Jo Norton walking in the 900 block of Macedonia Church Road.
Edwards knew Norton had outstanding warrants.
Norton initially refused to comply with the investigators, but after a brief physical encounter was taken into custody.
Norton was carrying a firearm on his hip, which a GCIC check indicated was stolen out of Fannin County.
Further investigation led to the discovery of a motorcycle, a four-wheeler, a generator and other, smaller items taken in the four burglaries.
Norton, 40, of 305 Crawford Road in Epworth, was charged with three counts of burglary and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Edwards said the investigation is ongoing.
Norton remained jailed Monday under a $30,000 bond.