Madison County Sheriff’s Office
Contributor
Madison County Sheriff David Harper reports that on Sunday, July 9, at 6:55 a.m. Deputy Tyler Andrews was dispatched to a reported burglary at 231 SE Farm Rd., in Madison. Upon arrival Deputy Andrews met with with a resident that advised at approximately 6:30 a.m., they observed a subject leave their neighbor’s house with two flat screen TVs and left the front door open. They further described in detail that the subject first left walking with the first TV and then returned and left walking with the second TV. The neighbor questioned the subject regarding if he was staying there and the subject stated he was but would not provide his name. The neighbor obtained a description of the subject and called 911. The description was provided to Deputy Andrews and the witness further advised that another neighbor called to advise they had observed the subject known to them as Shelton Sanders and an unknown black female loading two flat screen TVs in the back of a truck belonging to Eric Turner.
Deputy Andrews and Deputy Sims went to the scene from where the TVs were taken, which was 217 SE Farm Rd., in Madison, and observed the open front door. The residence was checked and secured with no persons located inside.
Deputy Andrews and Deputy Sims returned to the reporting neighbor and while gathering additional information, the neighbor observed Eric Turner’s truck drive by. Deputy Andrews and Deputy Sims immediately contacted Turner. Turner explained he had just taken Shelton Sanders and his niece, Tonizea Wooten to a location on SW Jackson Avenue where they unloaded the two flat screen TVs. Turner further explained he was home and sleeping when Sanders and Wooten knocked on his door and woke him up asking for him to take them to Sanders’ mother’s house. Turner agreed and that was when they loaded the two flat screen TVs and took them to the location on Jackson Avenue where they unloaded the TVs and placed them in a brown storage shed behind the house. Turner agreed to take the deputies to the location at 306 SW Jackson Ave., in Madison.
Upon arrival, deputies observed the front door open and as Deputy Andrews approached the front door, Deputy Sims went to the back door. While at the front door, Deputy Andrews heard Deputy Sims giving verbal loud commands. Deputy Andrews immediately responded to Deputy Sims where he was commanding compliance orders to Shelton Sanders. Deputy Andrews took Sanders into immediate custody.
The owner of the property provided consent to search the shed. Immediately after entering the shed, Wooten was observed sitting in a chair with both flat screen TVs beside her. Wooten explained to the deputies that Sanders had called her and stated he had bought the TVs and needed somewhere to take them. Wooten stated that is when she decided she could get her uncle Turner to give them a ride to the location on SW Jackson Avenue. Sanders did not make a statement or provide any information relating to the investigation.
The legal persons residing at the residence were contacted and responded to the scene, confirmed the burglary, identified the TVs and signed an affidavit for prosecution.
Sanders was transported to the Madison County Jail and a probable cause affidavit was completed for Wooten and pending charges for her involvement.
Sanders, 41, of Madison, was arrested and charged with grand theft and burglary of unoccupied structure. In addition to the current charges and arrest it was discovered that Sanders had an active warrant for writ of bodily attachment that he was also charged with.
Sheriff Harper thanks the neighbors and community for their participation and assistance provided to the deputies investigating this case and bringing this criminal to justice. It is these types of community partnerships and support that helps the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office protect and serve and keep our neighborhoods safe.