Sheriff’s deputies arrest homeless fugitive, seize $11,000

A Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy recovered $10,941 in cash while answering a routine call Saturday evening on Ky. 92E, and charged a homeless man with being a fugitive from the state of Tennessee. The cash is believed to have been part of nearly $51,000 taken during a Knoxville burglary earlier this month, police said.

Deputy Ben Hodge charged Rodney Fuson, 42, with public intoxication, non-payment of fines, and with felony fugitive warrants for theft and burglary.

Chief Deputy Tim Shelley said that Hodge responded to a complaint about complaint concerning a car parked on the shoulder of the horseshoe curve on Ky. 92E.

"When he pulled over there, there was a car sitting there and you could hear the music. When he walked up there and started knocking on the window, he realized the guy was passed out," Shelley said.

After knocking on the window several times to awaken Fuson, Hodge asked him for his driver’s license, which he said he didn’t have, Shelley said.

A computer check revealed that Fuson was wanted on two warrants out of Tennessee.

Fuson told Hodge that he had a crack pipe and a great deal of cash in the car, but didn’t know how much, Shelley said.
While Hodge didn’t find the crack pipe, he did find nearly $11,000 cash.

On Oct. 11, Fuson allegedly took $50,750 from the James E. Brown Insurance Agency in Knoxville, according to Tennessee court documents.

On Oct. 10, an employee at the business noticed their keys missing and had last seen the keys the day prior as they were locking up. Fuson allegedly approached the employee that day as he locked up and the two had a short conversation, according to court documents.

A police technician allegedly discovered a print from Fuson’s right middle finger on the side of a cash box in the insurance agency. Fuson is known to be a homeless individual known to frequently panhandle in the area of the insurance agency, according to court documents.

Fuson waived extradition back to Tennessee during a hearing Monday afternoon in Whitley District Court before Special Judge Jerry Winchester.

Sheriff Lawrence Hodge and Deputy Adam Jarboe assisted with the local investigation.