NEWCOMB, TN (WLAF) – Recently, Campbell County Sheriff’s Deputy Justin Phillips responded to a home on Hwy 297 in Newcomb where it was alleged a woman’s nephew identified as Donald Ray Hicks had stolen items from her home and truck.

When Phillips arrived, the woman reported Hicks had stolen the items while she was gone. She alleged he had taken a backpack, three cellphones along with the boxes they came in, a knife sharpener, battery pack, five cellphone charging cords, two charging blocks, one jacket, five pairs of jeans, six pairs of socks, four button up shirts and six t-shirts.

The woman told Deputy Phillips that Hicks returned later wearing some of the clothes and carrying the backpack, she reported he stole. She said she told Hicks to give the items back, but he refused. A witness told the deputy they saw Hicks go into the bedroom and take clothes from a tote, and the witness told Hicks to put the items back, but he stated they were his clothes, according to a report from the sheriff’s office.

Phillips left the residence and saw Hicks walking North on Hwy 297 in Newcomb carrying a backpack matching the description of the one he allegedly stole. When Hicks saw Deputy Phillips approaching, he started running through an overgrown field towards the wood line and creek. Phillips got out of his patrol car commanding Hicks to stop, which he failed to do. The deputy began to pursue Hicks on foot, commanding him to stop running. After about 60 yards, Phillips was able to catch and arrest Hicks.

When Phillips was patting Hicks down, he found two used hypodermic syringes in his front pant pocket with a brownish/red residue in them, a small black case with cotton and a broken spoon, a small red plastic bag with a round peach pill in it and two pieces of cotton with a peach residue on them.

Phillips retrieved the backpack Hicks threw down while running from him. Inside the backpack were some clothing items that Hicks was alleged to have stolen from the home at Newcomb. Also inside was a Samsung box that woman reported was hers. A second Samsung box containing a clear plastic sandwich bag with seven hypodermic syringes was also found.

Hicks, 35, 188 Taylor Lane, Pioneer was charged with theft of property under $999.99, evading arrest, possession of schedule III controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 02/21/2022-6AM)