Decatur/Benton Counties, Tenn.—Another resident of a ‘tent city’ on the Decatur-Benton Co. line has been arrested. According to the Decatur Co. Sheriff’s Office, Blake Austin Corley was arrested Sunday, November 4, in possession of 1.2 grams of meth.
As of Thursday, November 8, the sheriff’s office said, the homeless camp has now been vacated and “No Trespassing” signs are in place.
On October 24, Decatur Co. Sheriff Keith Byrd and Benton Co. Sheriff Kenny Christopher went to the homeless camp, which is known as “Tent City” and residents there were told they were trespassing on private property and they had two weeks to vacate the property or be arrested for trespassing, at the request of the property owner.
There had also been several complaints about the “Tent City residents” to both sheriffs from citizens about panhandling at the interstate and at local businesses.
At the time the two sheriffs visited the camp, there were approximately 10 people residing at the camp. Five of the ten people moved on fairly quickly, according to the sheriff’s office.
Four of the five people left at the camp were arrested by the U.S. Marshal’s Office and the Decatur County Sheriffs Dept. on outstanding warrants from different counties.
Decatur Co. Sheriff’s Office photo.
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