Charles Eric Brown
Authorities said they found over $60,000 in stolen property at a property on Harris Lane in Lookout Valley, including an airboat and cars that were being dismantled.
Charles Eric Brown was arrested at the scene. Warrants were being taken against his wife, Lisa Marie Brown, who ran into nearby woods, as well as Alvin Brown, brother of Charles Eric Brown.
Charles Eric Brown said his brother had brought the items to the Harris Lane address.
Charles Eric Brown, 30, of 3000 McGill Cemetery Road, is charged with theft of property over $60,000, two counts of theft of property over $2,500, operating a chop shop and criminal conspiracy.
The investigation began when two brothers told of major thefts from them at a location on Tsatanuga Trail. The brothers used the location for storage. Items missing included the airboat, tires, wheels, a Chevy engine, a truck load of treated lumber, trailer tires, 10 set of scaffoldings, a boat motor, aluminum ladders, several ATVs, batteries, a load of shelving, assorted chains, a 16-foot aluminum walk board, an air compressor and tool boxes.
An employee of the brothers told of going to the property to pick something up and finding a maroon extended cab pickup truck with a trailer at the scene. The person driving the truck said he was looking for scrap. The employee said the truck had an advertisement on the back.
A neighbor told of seeing the same truck leaving the property on Nov. 17 with the airboat in tow.
A witness told of spotting the airboat on Harris Lane in Lookout Valley. Deputies went to 3430 Harris Lane and found the airboat sitting in the front yard. Charles Eric Brown and Lisa Marie Brown were at the scene.
Charles Eric Brown said he drives the maroon extended cab truck found at the scene. On the window it said Ace Lawn Service and Scrap.
A black 2001 Honda Civic was in the driveway. It was found to have been stolen out of Red Bank.
A white Chevrolet diesel king cab pickup was missing all four tires and was sitting on rotors. It was found to have been stolen out of Marion County.
Property owner Charles Massengale gave consent to search the property.
Charles Eric Brown said the Honda belonged to his brother, Alvin Lester Brown. He said the Chevy truck and a stolen boat were also brought there by his brother.
Several old boat hulls were at the edge of the property and there was other evidence of vehicles being dismantled.
The airboat had been chopped for parts.
Ms. Brown ran off when a number of drug items were found in the house. She is on state probation.
Authorities said all three Browns have theft and drug convictions.