Jellico couple rams stolen dump truck into Williamsburg pharmacy during attempted break-in

A Jellico couple is still being lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center after allegedly using a stolen dump truck in an attempt to break into a Williamsburg pharmacy late Friday evening.

James C. Thomas, 30, and Dena B. Baird, 21, both of 816 Woolridge Pike, pleaded not guilty to all charges during their district court arraignments Monday morning before Judge Cathy Prewitt.

Williamsburg Police Detective Bobby Freeman charged both with third-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools, and receiving stolen property $10,000 or more.

Kentucky State Police Trooper Les Moses also charged Thomas with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol/drugs, driving on a suspended or revoked license, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and two violations of federal safety violations.

Moses also charged Baird with public intoxication, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The duo allegedly stole the 1993 red dump truck from Tennessee, and backed it into the Whitley Pharmacy building off US25W about 10:23 p.m., according to a Williamsburg Police Department press release.

A neighbor, who was a family of the person that called police, followed the dump truck after it left the pharmacy until K-9 Officer Brandon Prewitt could pull it over into the parking lot of the old Outdoor World near Goldbug, according to arrest citations.
Police discovered Thomas driving the vehicle, and Baird as a passenger inside.

Thomas was extremely impaired, and had to be assisted from the vehicle due to his level of impairment. He had an open syringe between the windshield of the truck and the dashboard, and a bag of marijuana fell out of his pocket as he pulled out the contents, an arrest citation noted.

Baird allegedly had just used intravenous drugs when she was stopped, and had a syringe in her jacket pocket. She also had three marijuana roaches inside her cigarette pack, according to an arrest citation.

Officers were able to determine the 1993 Western Star Dump Truck was stolen from Jellico, Tenn. Inside the vehicle, officers recovered several items including clothing made into mask, burglary tools, and marijuana, according to the press release.

Officers at Whitley Pharmacy determined the power supply to the building had been shut off in an apparent attempt to avoid the alarm system. The building suffered major structural damage. At this time it appears the suspects did not enter the building, according to the release.

Judge Prewitt scheduled Dec. 21 preliminary hearings for both Baird and Thomas, and appointed the public advocate’s office to represent both.

Thomas is being held in the Whitley County Detention Center in lieu of a $100,000 cash bond, and Baird is being held without bond because of a contempt of court charge in circuit court.

Officers assisting with the arrest were Prewitt and his K-9 partner "RICO," Moses and KSP Trooper Dwayne Foley, along with

Whitley County Sheriffs Deputy Scotty Prewitt. Detective Freeman will continue the Investigation.