Police responding to a report of an attempted burglary said they saw a man fleeing from a residence and that a deputy was able to catch him.
Thomas Branscom, 34, 318 Greenway Drive, Johnson City, was arrested early Wednesday morning by Carter County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Christopher Reichenbach and charged with aggravated attempted burglary, public intoxication, vandalism and resisting stop/frisk.
According to a police report by Reichenbach, the officer was dispatched to a residence on Fitzsimmons Hill Road after a 911 caller reported someone was trying to break into the home.
“When I arrived I heard a disturbance behind the residence and ran around back and noticed a man, later identified as Thomas Branscom, running away from the residence,” Reichenbach said. “I began foot pursuit and informed Mr. Branscom I was with the Sheriff’s Department and to stop. Mr. Branscom continued to run until I was able to apprehend him.”
Reichenbach said he arrested Branscom and placed him in a police cruiser before speaking to the resident of the home. According to the report, the woman told police she had not seen Branscom in six years and he unexpectedly showed up at her residence on Tuesday at around 10 p.m.
“(The woman) allowed Mr. Branscom in her residence for about 10 minutes and then told him to leave,” Reichenbach said, adding the woman reported Branscom remained for several minutes after being told to leave but he eventually left the residence. “Mr. Branscom came back to the residence around 3 a.m. on (Wednesday) and tried to break into the back door of the residence,” he wrote.
“Mr. Branscom broke some of the under siding of the trailer, the glass to the back storm door, and put a hole in the back door,” Reichenbach said, adding he also detected an odor of alcohol on the man.
Branscom was taken to the Carter County Detention Center, but was later released on bond. He is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on Oct. 24.