Suspect Arrested in New Center Auto Burglary Spree as Sevier County and Knoxville Agencies Collaborate

A string of alleged auto burglaries in the New Center area has culminated in an arrest, according to the Sevier County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Michael R. Hodges, Jr. credited the cooperation of local residents for their crucial role in apprehending the suspect, expressing his gratitude in a social media post on the department’s official page. The car burglaries, as initially investigated last Monday, May 5, involved the collaboration of multiple law enforcement agencies, who together shed light on the ordeal.

New Center residents aided detectives, leading to a suspect vehicle and a suspect. The investigation crossed county lines, and with help from the Knox County Sheriff's Office and Sevierville Police Department, Sevier County detectives were able to arrest the suspect. "Thank you to the folks from the New Center Community for their continued cooperation, which assisted in the apprehension of the person responsible for these crimes. Our Detectives worked diligently to solve these cases and we are grateful for the assistance of our partner agencies," stated Sheriff Hodges, as noted by the Facebook post.

The interagency effort bore fruit on Tuesday when Brian Jamar Underwood, 44, from Knoxville, faced arrest and subsequent charges, including seven counts of Burglary (Automobile). But his troubles don't end there; Underwood stares down the barrel of additional charges—Vandalism, Fraudulent use of a Credit/Debit Card, Forgery, and Theft of Property, a mélange of allegations that have landed him in the Sevier County Jail. Underwood is prepped for a hearing in General Sessions Court.