Bryce Jones

THOMASVILLE — A Thomasville Police Department detective’s dog always lets the household know when a cat is in the yard.

Detective Toby Knifer and his family were asleep at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday when Daisy, a Labrador/golden retriever mix, began barking loudly, joined by Rocky, a Chihuahua. Knifer said he looked out a window and saw a vehicle with lights off traveling on the wrong side of the road.

“I suspected they were looking into cars,” Knifer said.

The officer got into his personal vehicle while talking to dispatch and attempting to get a tag number, while witnessing a male go to five houses, then run and get into the vehicle, a blue 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. 

“They took off,” Knifer explained.

Knifer continued his search for the vehicle, which he found broken down. Fellow police officers and Thomas County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived simultaneously.

A passenger in the car fled, leaving the driver and another passenger in the vehicle.

The passenger who fled ran around several houses and returned where officers were gathered, said Lt. Tim Watkins, sheriff’s office chief investigator.

Money and computer equipment were taken from seven vehicles between 11 a.m. Monday and when Knifer was awakened, according to authorities. Disposable plastic gloves were found in the Monte Carlo and in the pocket of a suspect.

Maj. Eric Hampton, Thomasville Police public information officer, said the car’s mechanical problems caused the vehicle to stall on Patterson Street.

Those charged are Aaron Graham, 19, 2100 Mimosa Drive, Bryce Nicholas Jones, 18, 2820 Fawnwood Circle, and Taurian Javon Werts, 19, 5634 Fontana Road, all of Valdosta. Each suspect is charged with seven counts of entering auto.

Watkins said the Valdosta teens confessed.

At the time of his arrest, Werts was released on bond in December in Lowndes County, where he is charged with a drug offense and possession of stolen firearm.

Watkins said people are coming into Thomas County from Florida and other Georgia cities looking for items to steal from unlocked vehicles.

And, Knifer and Watkins pointed out, the seven vehicles entered Monday night and Tuesday morning were unlocked.

 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820