CPD Arrests Suspect in Vehicle Break-In Video

Cookeville Police arrested a man in connection with a vehicle break-in thanks to multiple tips from the public.

Samuel Smith, 55, was arrested in White County and is being held at the Putnam County Jail on $30,000 bond. Officials charged him with three counts of burglary and one count felony fugitive for an outstanding warrant in Mississippi.

Detective Jamey McCurry said the department thanks everyone who helped lead investigators to an arrest.

“[I’m] glad to say we received an incredible amount of help from the community,” McCurry said. “Lots of tips coming into my phone every day, some of which we were able to ultimately use to corroborate other information and identify the suspect.”

CPD posted a video on their Facebook page Aug. 28 showing a man break into a dark-colored SUV and taking an item before escaping in a vehicle.

“I am still investigating this. What had happened was we got so many tips from that initial video, and we believe that there were other crimes,” McCurry said. We immediately obtained an additional video several days later from another business and did not release that video, because the vehicle he was using had changed, and another suspect had been involved.”

McCurry said the department has contacted officials in Algood and White County in regards to other charges that may be levied on Smith. He added it’s unclear as to whether other similar incidents in Cookeville are related.

“We’ve had some where the windows were busted out but Mr. Smith was using a screwdriver to pry the windows out in a very particular manner,” McCurry said. “Others were being busted where he was prying the windows out. So we were able to kind of tie him to some by the use of his particular M.O.”

Neither of the drivers involved in Smith’s break-ins have been identified at this time.