Full Notification

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
JACKSON POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: April 18, 2014
BY: Chief Gill Kendrick

Point of Contact: Capt. Tyreece Miller 731-425-8676 [email protected]

Police Solve Burglaries and Thefts at Jackson Meadow
Contract Painter in Custody and Will Be Arraigned Monday;
Investigators Have Recovered Some of the Stolen Property

Jackson police have solved a series of burglaries and thefts at Jackson Meadow Independent Senior Living Community, and a contract painter is in custody.

On March 4, the Jackson Fire Department responded to a fire at Jackson Meadow at 25 Max Lane Drive. Firefighters extinguished the fire, which had caused damage.

The affected residents were temporarily moved from the facility due to construction. The residents were told to leave their doors unsecured so contractors could do repairs, and they left valuables in their rooms.

In late March and early April, residents and family began looking for items as they began to move back in. They then noticed that cash and property were missing.

Investigators learned that Stephen Bragg, 30, of Jackson, was hired to do interior painting at Jackson Meadow. Bragg was developed as a suspect after a security guard saw him on the property one night without his work equipment.

Further investigation determined that Bragg was solely responsible for stealing cash, jewelry and other valuables from six to eight different apartments at Jackson Meadow while the residents were temporarily gone.

Investigators have prepared two separate arrest warrants charging Bragg with felony theft for stealing property from two different apartments. Both residents estimated over $10,000 worth of property had been taken. In these thefts, investigators believe Bragg had the opportunity to steal while on the job.

Investigators prepared a third warrant charging Bragg with aggravated burglary and felony theft because he entered a third apartment with the intent to steal and not work. In that incident, he took property with an estimated value of approximately $3,340.

Bragg has been in custody at the Madison County Jail since April 14 for an unrelated burglary in Madison County.

The Jackson City Court Judge will review Bragg's new charges Saturday morning and determine a bond amount.

Bragg is scheduled to be formally arraigned via video link at 8 a.m. Monday in Jackson City Court.

Since Bragg's arrest, investigators have recovered jewelry and other items from the burglaries and thefts and will be contacting Jackson Meadow residents who have filed police reports. Investigators' goal is to identify the recovered property and ultimately return it to the rightful owners.

Police encourage residents who were temporarily moved because of the fire to inventory your property. If you discover items missing and believe you are a victim, then file a report with the Jackson Police Department.

The investigation is ongoing, and Bragg will face additional counts. Police anticipate presenting future charges directly to the Madison County grand jury.