Video surveillance from two businesses helped lead to an arrest

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- In late January, LaFollette Police Department K-9 Patrolman Zack Daugherty spoke with an individual in the front lobby of the LaFollette Police Department. This person wanted to report their debit card as stolen.

Officer Daugherty spoke with the victim who reported they were an employee of Wendy’s Restaurant and believed the card had been stolen from Wendy’s on Jan. 25. The victim reported they believed a co-worker, Preston Keith McNeely, had allegedly taken the card. The victim provided statements showing that the missing debit card had been used at Murphy Express in LaFollette as well as at Wal-Mart in Jacksboro, according to a report from the LaFollette Police Department. The amount used at Murphy Express was $35.78, and the amount spent at Wal-Mart was $15.73.

Daugherty reviewed camera footage from Wendy’s which shows McNeely walk into the office at Wendy’s and retrieve an item from the counter and place it in his pocket. The victim believes it was their debit card. Daugherty also reviewed camera footage at Wal-Mart which shows McNeely making a purchase for $15.73 from a self-checkout. Wal-Mart provided Daugherty with the receipt of the listed transaction which shows the debit card used to pay for the items that was registered to the victim. The victim reported that they never gave consent for McNeely to use or take the debit card.

McNeely, 23, homeless, LaFollette was arrested on Jan. 29 and charged with fraudulent use of a credit or debit card, theft of property under $999. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-02/12/2025-6AM)

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