John Day faces charges of theft of property up to $250,000 and vandalism of $60,000 or more

DUFF, TN (WLAF)- Details of an alleged deliberate act that knocked out utility and phone service to a large number of customers in the White Oak area will be heard in court on Thursday. The suspect, John Michael Day, 50, of 135 Atlantic Lane at Duff, was arrested Saturday afternoon on a warrant out of general sessions court.

On May 20, 2024, Campbell Sheriff’s Lt. Det. Gary Jeffers and Stoney Love, facilities security officer for La Follette Utilities Board (LUB), learned about the incident early that Monday morning. Jeffers estimated the time of the vandalism and burglary likely took place between midnight and 7am.

On North Highway 25W, Jeffers discovered two torn down utility poles allowing access for the telephone cable to be cut. Preliminary estimates of the theft and vandalism to AT&T are more than $60,000, and more than $60,000 in vandalism to LUB.

At approximately 10:15 am Jeffers learned that Love was in the area of Atlantic and Travillion Lanes which is close to where the theft and vandalism occurred. Love found burn piles that appeared to have coating from a phone line and then noticed a white 1997 Chevrolet CK truck. In the bed of the truck, Love allegedly saw a large container full of burned copper wire consistent with the phone line that had been stolen earlier in the morning, according to the arrest warrant.

Upon further investigation, Love came across John Day sitting in the truck and while speaking with Day, allegedly saw Day had a black handgun. Love took photographs of the copper wiring in the bed of the truck. He then verified through the registration of the truck that the pick-up belonged to Day.

At 1:30pm, Jeffers went to Mike’s Recycling just across the state line in Williamsburg on Lot-Mud Creek Road where he spoke with the owner of the business, Michael Holt. Holt allegedly provided Jeffers with a receipt showing Day brought 513 pounds of copper to Mike’s Recycling. Day sold it for $1,662.60, based on the arrest warrant.

Employees at Mike’s Recycling allegedly identified Day as the driver of the white Chevy truck. “Michael showed me the copper that had been sold by Day, and it appeared to be phone line that had been burned, which is consistent with the stolen phone line from AT&T,” said Jeffers.

Just after 2pm, Jeffers was trying to locate Day on Knotty Pine Lane in the Morley community. He soon found Day’s truck parked in the driveway of a family member’s home on Knotty Pine Lane. Jeffers had Day’s truck towed to the sheriff’s office impound lot to be held as evidence.

The warrant was served on Day late Saturday afternoon at Smokey’s Market at White Oak. Day, freed on a $75,000 bond on Monday, is due in court on Thursday morning. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-04/09/2025-6AM)

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