Larry Melvin Catlett Jr.
Andrew Wayne Vaughn
Beth Richelle Stepp
Kenneth W. Knight
Three fugitives who appeared on Bradley County’s “Ten Most Wanted” list have been apprehended within the past week.
Wednesday in Panama City, Fla., transport deputies were expected to take custody of Larry Melvin Catlett Jr., 43, who was placed on the list in April. Catlett was found in Bay County and has waived extradition to Tennessee, where he has numerous warrants.
Those charges are aggravated burglary, domestic violence, failure to appear, violation of probation, failure to serve jail time, contempt of court, and misdemeanor probation violation.
On Tuesday, Andrew Wayne Vaughn was taken into custody after fleeing from deputies at a traffic stop on Bates Pike. Vaughn, 38, jumped out of the vehicle while it was still moving and ran toward a field across the road from Taylor Elementary School. School Resource Officers assisted in locating Vaughn, who had warrants for failure to appear and non-support.
School officials placed the school on look-down as a precaution and Vaughn was taken into custody about 10 minutes after he fled. He now has additional charges of speeding, possession of a prohibited weapon, felony evading, possession of schedule II drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended, having no insurance, and failure to maintain lane.
In the vehicle with Vaughn was Beth Richelle Stepp, 34, who has been charged with possession of schedule II drugs and tampering with state evidence.
The lockdown was lifted after Vaughn’s capture and at no time did he go onto school property.
The third fugitive on the Top 10 list is Kenneth W. Knight, who was sought on federal firearms and narcotics charges. He was arrested last Friday and is being held in the Bradley County jail.
The Ten Most Wanted list is featured on the department’s website www.bradleysheriff.com