Suspect arrested following July 7 traffic stop
By Glenn Harbison
glenn@thenewsobserver.com
Blue Ridge Police Officer Gary Holloway spotted a Chevrolet S-10 pickup that looked suspicious and within minutes joined Sergeant John Kinser of the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office in stopping the truck on Highway 515 at the entrance to Tammen Park.
What resulted was the arrest of Garrett Alex Warbington, 22, of 266 Choctaw Lane in Mineral Bluff on theft charges, the recovery of the bar-b-que smoker grill stolen from the Blue Ridge United Methodist Church in April, and the recovery of 18 assorted car rims stolen from Williams Tire in Blue Ridge moments earlier.
The arrest took place Wednesday, July 7, shortly before 11:30 p.m.
According to Investigator Gary Edwards of the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, Holloway first spotted the truck that looked unusual and suspicious. When he and Kinser performed the traffic stop, Kinser had remembered a BOLO (be-on-the-lookout) for a similar vehicle believed associated with the smoker grill theft from the Blue Ridge church April 17.
During questioning, Warbington admitted stealing the grill and then selling it to a person in Union County.
Church member Kevin Panter was notified around midnight, and he and Patrick Cooke went with deputies to a residence in Union County where the grill was recovered and returned to Fannin County.
Warbington is charged with one felony count of Theft by Taking in conjunction with stealing the grill in a warrant taken by Kinser.
A separate warrant, taken by Fannin County Deputy Sheriff Richard Gazaway, charges Warbington with a misdemeanor charge of Theft by Taking for the 18 car rims from Williams found in the truck when the suspect was stopped.
Panter expressed the church’s appreciation to the Blue Ridge Police Department and Fannin County Sheriff’s Office for their continued efforts that resulted in the arrest and grill being recovered.
While the grill was not available for the May fundraiser held by the church’s men’s club, it “is ready for the next one,” Panter said.
He also thanked “Grilling Gangster” who loaned the church his grill for the fundraiser and Bill’s One Stop for donating a grill the church is able to use as a back-up.