By DERRICK KEETON
Intern and
TOMMY MILLSAPS
Staff Writer
• SWEETWATER


Sweetwater Police said a Sweetwater man and a Niota man are facing a host of charges after an alleged burglary spree early Thursday morning.
Christopher Morgan, 19, County Road 350, Sweetwater and Jesse L. Fairbanks, 19, County Road 227, Niota, were charged with burglary, theft under $500 and two counts of vandalism.

Sgt. Kris King and Officer Suzanne Ward responded to a possible burglary at Allen's 7-11 at approximately 12:57 a.m.
When they arrived, the officers discovered a window had been broken where a forced entry had been made.
A security camera film helped give a description of the suspects and the vehicle in which they escaped.

While inspecting other stores in the area for possible break-ins, King stopped a vehicle matching the description of the one caught on surveillance and Detective John Scruggs was notified and arrived on the scene shortly thereafter.

According to police, Morgan admitted to both his and Fairbanks' roles in the burglary after questioning.
In addition to the Allen's 7-11 burglary, police said the two men attempted to break into the Marathon station and BP on Murray's Chapel Road.
Police charged the two suspects with vandalism for their damage to two gas stations on Murray's Chapel Road.

SPD Chief Eddie Byrum said the two men stole lottery tickets and tobacco products form Allen's, but the stolen items were recovered.
Scruggs said the patrol division led by King and Ward did an excellent job nabbing the two suspects not long after the break-in and break-in attempts
Bryum said in talking to other area police chiefs, many departments are noticing an upswing in the number of break-ins and thefts.

tommy.millsaps@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101