Full Notification

The Jackson Police Department has arrested two 17-year-old males and charged them in four home burglaries and a vandalism that occurred in South Jackson between Jan. 15 and Jan. 29.

On Jan. 23, the suspects broke into two houses at 180 Old Malesus Road and 84 Malesus Heights Drive.

On Jan. 27, the suspects cut the screen on a window at 105 Bellmeade Drive. An off-duty sheriff’s deputy saw the suspects and chased them, but they were able to get away.

A third burglary occurred on Jan. 28 at 39 Green Acres Drive.

The fourth and last burglary was significant because it led to the suspects’ capture. It occurred around Jan. 15 at 172 Old Malesus Road, but it wasn’t discovered until Jan. 29. The home had been vacant for about two weeks because of recent water damage.

When a woman and workers came to the house to inspect it, she discovered someone had broken in. The suspects were actually inside at the time. They ran out of the home, leaving behind a pan of bacon that was still cooking. The woman called the police, and officers and investigators found property that the suspects had left behind. This property led to the identities of the two teens.

A neighbor saw them run from the house and get into a car. The car’s description was passed along to officers. A Jackson police officer later saw the car and stopped it on Caldwell Road. Both of the suspects were still in the car and were taken into custody. They were both found to be runaways from Jackson.
These cases were assigned to Investigator Rick Butler with the Burglary and Theft Unit. During the investigation, Investigator Butler was successful in recovering stolen property from all four of the homes.

The teens are being held at the Madison County Juvenile Detention Center on multiple charges of aggravated burglary, vandalism and criminal trespass.

Their court date is set for March 11 at 1:30 p.m. in Madison County Juvenile Court.

One particular item that was stolen from a home on Old Malesus Road was a Marine Corps noncommissioned officer’s sword, also known as a Marine NCO sword. The Marine NCO sword is one of the oldest weapons still in service in the United States Armed Forces. The NCO sword was adopted by the Marines in 1859 and was carried during the American Civil War. Today the NCO sword is restricted to ceremonial occasions.

On Jan. 23, Susie Sikes’ home was broken into and her late husband’s NCO sword that sat on the mantle beside an American flag was stolen. Ms. Sikes’ husband, Kenneth Sikes, died in October 2013. This past June they would have celebrated 40 years of marriage.

Kenneth Sikes was a Sergeant in the Marines and served his country from 1971 to 1975. Sikes was a paratrooper and diver and was in Force Recon, which is Marine Special Forces. After the Marines, Sikes served in the Tennessee National Guard for two years.

This sword has even more significant value to Mrs. Sikes because it was purchased by her nephew and was given to her husband many years ago. Mrs. Sikes said that her nephew, who was killed in a car crash in 2002, had given her husband the NCO sword because her husband was her nephew’s hero.

The Jackson Police Department recognizes the history and rich traditions of the Marine Corps and are extremely proud and honored to return Sgt. Sikes’ NCO sword to Mrs. Sikes