Five individuals were arrested early Monday in connection to a burglary at Sweetwater Airsoft in McMinn County, as reported by the McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy. The suspects were apprehended amidst an alleged theft of airsoft guns and accessories from the business, according to a release referenced by WVLT.
The officials responded to the scene following a tip regarding an ongoing theft at around 12:30 a.m. Caught with two of the suspects in a Ford F-150, and three additional suspects were found hiding at the corner of the property, as per a statement obtained by WATE. Among those taken into custody were Joshua Weber, 18, of Vonore, James Whitner, 20, of Sweetwater, Blake Fisher, 19, of Athens, Paiden Davis, 24, of Vonore, and a 17-year-old juvenile.
Weber and the juvenile had previously visited Sweetwater Airsoft, thereafter allegedly masterminding the burglary with Whitner, Davis, and Fisher the following night. Sheriff Joe Guy remarked on the successful recovery of the stolen items, which were covertly stashed in nearby woods and subsequently at the homes of two suspects in Monroe County. "It was the quick response by our deputies and good police work that resulted in a positive outcome," Guy told WVLT.
Charges laid on the suspects included counts of burglary, theft, and conspiracy to commit burglary. After being discovered hidden in nearby woods armed with several airsoft guns and other accessories, as detailed by WATE, the stolen goods were returned to their rightful owners. Bonds were set at $56,000 for both Weber and Whitner, due to the serious nature of the offenses detailed in the WIVK report, with Fisher and Davis facing $5,000 and $10,000 bonds, respectively. The 17-year-old was processed separately through juvenile court. The items that were recovered were promptly returned to the Sweetwater Airsoft business owners.
