Sheriff's Reports 11-13-24: Stolen property recovered at suspect's residence

A man was arrested after deputies recovered property stolen from an elementary school at the suspect's residence.

On Oct. 20, Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputy Dustin Tannehill was notified of a break-in at Lowery Elementary School that occurred the previous day. Video footage was obtained and bolt cutters were found at the school. The footage purportedly showed a man on a red bicycle and him breaking into the school. According to Tannehill's report, the suspect was identified as Richard Bradley Ryals. Deputies went to Ryals' residence and could see the red bicycle and the stolen items on the ground. Deputy James Carver noted that Ryals was also suspected of a burglary that occurred four miles from the school on Sept. 10. Deputies returned the Ryals' residence with a search warrant and attempted to make contact with the man on Oct. 24. Ryals didn't open the door when deputies knocked and announced themselves; however, they could hear movement inside the travel trailer. Deputies made entry and advised others Ryals was running from the north side of the trailer. He was found hiding in a restroom and arrested. Carver said there was a rifle and a bag of what appeared to be methamphetamine in the area of the living room. Ryals fessed up to burglarizing the school but claimed he didn't remember breaking into a residence in September. Ryals was transported to jail and booked for a warrant, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Oct. 24, Deputy Jimmie Robertson was dispatched to West 823 Road for a domestic assault and battery incident wherein a knife was involved. The deputy spoke with the victim who said Jeff McCutcheon assaulted her. She explained that McCutcheon held a knife to her neck during the alleged assault. A woman advised Robertson that the man might try to attack the deputy in an attempt to "perform suicide by cop." Robertson made contact with McCutcheon, who denied assaulting the woman. The victim said she was Door Dashing in Muskogee the previous day when McCutcheon got in her vehicle and refused to get out. The woman told Robertson she thought she was going to die during the assault and she was able to get away from McCutcheon. She said the man refused to let her leave the residence where she was assaulted. McCutcheon admitted to biting the woman but claimed he didn't bite her hard enough to leave a mark. Furthermore, he claimed the woman used the knife to cut herself and it was probably hidden in a basket. Robertson found the knife and a glass pipe with a white crystal-like substance in the basket. McCutcheon was transported to jail and booked for domestic assault and battery, kidnapping, possession of drug paraphernalia, and threaten to perform act of violence.

Deputy James Carver was patrolling the area of U.S. Highway 62 Oct. 23 when dispatch put out a call regarding a reckless driver who was southbound on Park Hill Road. According to reports, the driver of a gray SUV was running off and on the road, driving in the opposite lane, and randomly stopping in the middle of the road. Carver located the suspected vehicle parked at Park Hill Road and a cemetery. The driver, who was identified as James Cameron Stepp, was found slumped over in the vehicle and told Carver he was resting because he didn't think he could make it home due to being tired. Stepp denied consuming any illegal substances and told Carver he couldn't search his vehicle when asked. Deputy Austin Carver's K-9 deputy alerted on the vehicle and deputies found what appeared to be methamphetamine. Stepp initially said he didn't wish to speak with Carver but he eventually said he bought the drug at a residence. Stepp was booked for possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

On Oct. 26, Deputy Robertson was notified of a possible intoxicated pedestrian in the area of State Highway 82 North and State Highway 51 Spur. The deputy located the individual and could see him stumble into the roadway. Jacob Leigh Reynolds, who claimed his name was Jacob Brown, had an odor of alcohol coming from is person. He denied consuming alcohol and denied having any alcohol on him despite there being unopened beer cans in the backpack he was carrying. Reynolds was booked for public intoxication, possession of marijuana, and obstruction.

These are arrests, not convictions.