Martin, Tenn.–Beginning early this morning at approximately 1:10am, the Martin Police Department began receiving numerous reports of vehicle burglaries and attempted vehicle burglaries from different areas in the middle and south portions of the city. Video footage was obtained from several different home security camera systems.
At approximately 8:25am today, the Martin Police Department received a call that a suspicious person was on foot in the area of Jackson St. wearing a head covering and carrying a backpack. The caller also stated that it appeared as though he was checking vehicle doors to see if they were unlocked. Multiple officers responded to the area and Inv. Chris Finch made contact with the suspect. Patrol officers then located the suspect’s abandoned vehicle parked in the East Side Cemetery. The suspect was detained for questioning and his vehicle was towed. After a search of the suspect’s personal belongings and the vehicle, several stolen items from earlier reports were located. The suspect was identified as Dalton Davis, 18 of Martin.
Further investigation revealed that a juvenile offender also participated in the vehicle burglaries with Davis. The juvenile offender was taken into custody at a residence in Martin.
Davis was charged with several counts of burglary from a motor vehicle and transported to the Weakley County Detention Center. His arraignment will be in Weakley County General Sessions Court on Thursday, February 6, 2025. The juvenile offender was also charged with several counts of burglary from a motor vehicle and was transported to a juvenile detention facility. The investigation continues and several other charges may be pending for both offenders.
The Martin Police Department would like to advise other residents that if they discover that there have been items taken from any other vehicles during the night or early morning that has not been reported, please contact MPD at (731)587-5355.
We would like to thank all of the residents and victims that made reports and/or sent us security video. These crimes were solved in a large part due to community participation.