Police Charge Two Employees with Arson and Felony Vandalism for Intentionally Setting Fire Inside Sonic at Closing
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
JACKSON POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: April 9, 2014
BY: Chief Gill Kendrick
Point of Contact: Capt. Tyreece Miller 731-425-8676 [email protected]
Police Charge Two Employees with Arson and Felony Vandalism for Intentionally Setting Fire Inside Sonic at Closing
Jackson police have charged two employees with arson and felony vandalism for intentionally setting a fire inside Sonic at closing.
Dezeare Higgs, 18, and Kimberly Chalker a.k.a. Kimberly Gantt, 31, were formally arraigned at 8 a.m. Wednesday in Jackson City Court on charges of arson and vandalism over $1,000.
Higgs' and Chalker's bonds were both set at $25,000 each, and their next scheduled court appearance is April 17 at 1:30 p.m. in Jackson City Court.
On April 2 around 11 p.m., the Jackson Fire Department was called to a fire inside Sonic, at 2101 North Highland Ave. Firefighters responded and extinguished the blaze. There was an estimated $2,000 worth of damage.
An investigation by police determined that two employees, Dezeare Higgs and Kimberly Chalker, both of Jackson, were working together at Sonic. At closing, Higgs and Chalker both placed trash and paper in a trash can inside Sonic. Chalker then set the trash can on fire while Higgs watched. The two women then left the business together.
Police arrested Higgs about 4:30 p.m. and Chalker around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. They both were transported to the Madison County Jail.
Chalker is on state probation for aggravated burglary and theft of property over $10,000 for a June 2011 burglary in Madison County. Chalker pleaded guilty in Madison County Circuit Court, Division III in April 2012 and was placed on eight years' probation.
Investigators have spoken with Chalker's probation officer, and he intends to request a probation violation warrant for her.
Pic 1 Higgs
Pic 2 Chalker
Address/Location
Jackson Tennessee Police Department
234 Institute St
Jackson, TN 38301
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 731-425-8400
Tyreece Miller
Criminal Investigation Divison
[email protected]
731-425-8676
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