A Hampton woman faces charges after a man told police he saw her trying to break into his neighbor’s home and he held her gunpoint until officers arrived.
Officers of the Carter County Sheriff’s Office arrested Katherine Dickerson, 23, 197 Carl Smith Road, Hampton, on Tuesday morning and charged her with attempted burglary and possession of burglary tools.
Deputies with the Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a home on Gap Creek Road in Hampton after a 911 caller reported a woman was attempting to break into the home.
CCSO Deputy Johnathan Simerly, who filed the charges against Dickerson said when he arrived at the home Deputy Sal Caccamo was already on the scene and had detained a woman, who was later identified as Dickerson.
“According to Deputy Caccamo, when he arrived the female was standing next to the steps of the residence being held at gunpoint by a male,” Simerly said. “After securing the weapon, the male, Tim Surey, stated that she, Katherine Dickerson, was attempting to break in his neighbor’s house and he was afraid she had a weapon so he was holding her until officers arrived.”
Simerly said Dickerson told officers her car had just broken down nearby and she had walked to the house to wait on her boyfriend, whom she identified as the Anthony Guy the son of the home’s owner.
“I then made contact with the home owner, Lisa Guy, who stated that Ms. Dickerson has broken into their home in the past and was not supposed to be on the property,” Simerly said. “Also, Anthony Guy was with her in Jonesborough and not coming to pick up Ms. Dickerson. I then talked to Mr. Guy and he made the same statement.”
Simerly then searched around the scene and found a piece of metal lying under a window he was familiar with from a previous break in attempt at the home. The officer noted there appeared to be fresh pry marks on the window.
“I also noticed that there was silicone sealant placed around the window that was not present during my last investigation, and the fresh seal had been broken leaving the window cracked open,” Simerly said. “I also found a broken knife point lying near the window. I then searched the area that Mr. Surey stated she was at when he found her and Deputy Caccamo found her upon his arrival, and found a pocket knife with part of the blade missing, another piece of the same type of metal found at the window, and a toboggan with eye holes cut in it.”
Officers placed Dickerson into custody and advised her of her rights, Simerly said. Dickerson told officers the knife and toboggan were her’s but she could not explain how the knife was broken. She denied any knowledge of the metal pieces, Simerly said.
“While en route to the Detention Center we passed a maroon sedan sitting beside 19-E in Hampton and Ms. Dickerson yelled ‘See there is my car that just broke down,’” Simerly said. “However, I knew that car had been sitting there for two days as I had checked it, running the VIN on Oct. 31 morning. After being told this, Ms. Dickerson changed her story to it broke down yesterday and she stayed with a friend last night.”
After arriving at the jail, Simerly said a female officer searched Dickerson and located rubber gloves rolled up in the woman’s sleeves.
Dickerson was booked into the Carter County Detention Center was later released after posting a $3,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in Carter County General Sessions Court on Dec. 13.