Two men face an array of charges following an incident Tuesday that revolved around an empty gas tank, a botched attmept to steal fuel from two locations, a wanted criminal, and a quantifty of methamphetamine.
Coffee County sheriff’s officials stated a deputy located a red Ford Explorer wanted in connection to a gas drive-off at Clyde’s Minit Mart pulling into the parking lot of Chaney Motors on the Willachoochee Hwy. The deputy initiated a traffic stop in the parking lot of the business and identified the driver as James Wesley McDermitt. A passenger in the vehicle was identified as David Salyers.
It was quickly learned that Salyers was a wanted fugitive with four outstanding bench warrants. The deputy also located a clear plastic baggie under the driver’s seat that contained methamphetamine.
The deputy requested assistance from a drug detective and, while he was waiting for the detective’s arrival, noticed several of the vehicles at Chaney Motors had opened gas caps, hoods were up, and some had the radios removed.
There was also a 2002 Lincoln LS located in the parking lot twhich the deputy learned belonged to McDermit. Inside this vehicle, the deputy located several radios he believed had been stolen from vehicles on the lot.
Salyers and McDermitt were arrested at that time and transported to the Coffee County Jail.
The owner of Chaney Motor’s arrived shortly afterwards and advised the officers there were approximately 10 vehicles that were damaged, five of which were missing radios.
During an interview with detectives at the sheriff’s office, McDermitt stated the methamphetamine belonged to him, officials reported. He told authorities he had placed the package of drugs under the driver’s seat when he observed the deputy behind his vehicle. He further stated he ran out gas and attempted to steal gas out of the vehicles at Chaney Motors, but was unable to do so.
McDermitt walked to Clyde’s Minit Market and called Salyers to pick him up. He went on to tell authorities that Salyers picked him up at the store and, after pumping gas,asked McDermitt to drive because there was a deputy at the store and his license was suspended.
During the interview, McDermitt admitted he had broken into the vehicles and removed the radios.
McDermitt was charged with five counts of entering auto (felony), two counts of criminal damage to property (felony), seven counts of criminal trespass (misdemeanor) and one count of possession of methamphetamine (felony).
Salyers was charged with driving away without paying for gasoline (misdemeanor) and served with the four bench warrants.
Remember, folks, crime doesn’t pay…especially if you’re really bad at it.
David Salyers