A routine traffic stop leads investigators to a cache of stolen goods inside a Holladay residence on Friday. According to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Mark Clinton Whitfield, 30, was arrested after a Tennessee Highway Patrolman advised local deputies that a stolen gun that was part of a Benton County investigation had been found in a vehicle belonging to the suspect. A series of events led up to Whitfield’s eventual arrest.
Deputy Blake Riley responded to the trooper’s call and traced the gun to another traffic stop earlier in the week. The statement said Deputies Bert Wells and Ken Wright had stopped the suspect on September 15. After making the determination, Sergeant Ken Fry and Deputy Bert Wells staged areas in the proximities of Gobbler Dr., Kelly Rd. and Hwy. 192, while Lieutenant Ricky Pafford and Deputy Blake Riley served a search warrant at Whitfield’s residence.
While searching the residence, Whitfield was allegedly found with stolen property that included a motorcycle, toolbox full of items, gold coins, bows, and several guns reported missing out of Illinois.
Whitfield was arrested and charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000 less than $10,000 and possession of stolen property $2,500 to $10,000. He is being held in the Benton County Jail.
