(Updated 12/12/14 to identify suspects.)
Press release
On Dec. 10, Patrol Sgt. T. Goodell was dispatched to the railroad tracks at Highway 31W and Loop7 in reference to suspicious activity. Sgt. Goodell was assisted by Investigators John Long and Brad Gray.
Upon arrival Gray and Long were met by Athens Police Officer B. Carlow who advised a caller had called in a suspicious vehicle near the railroad tracks. The truck was stuck in the rocks next to the tracks and was occupied by Jeffery Wheeler, 40, and Rebecca Smith, 21. Prior to the suspicious activity call a Union Pacific Control Station alarm had been activated and a Union Pacific representative was dispatched to the area to investigate. The Union Pacific representative determined that wires had been cut and removed from a control station approx. 3/10 mile west from where the truck was stuck. The control station controls a 20-mile stretch of tracks that signals train whether to proceed or not. A search of the truck revealed pieces of wire identified as the wire missing from the control station.
Wheeler and Smith were found to be in possession of the wire that had been cut. Wheeler and Smith were arrested without incident and transported to the Henderson County Jail.
Bond amount totaling $40,000 was set for each.
Who are Wheeler and Smith? Story kind of failed to identify.
You are correct … sorry that got cut out … story updated to include their full names and ages … that is all the information that was provided by the Sheriff’s office. (Michael)