County man charged with forcing his way into Roan Mountain home
Published 7:30 pm Wednesday, October 4, 2017
- Harold Russell
A Carter County man faces a felony charge after police say he forced his way into a Roan Mountain home just one day after officers removed him from the residence and told him not to return.
Deputies with the Carter County Sheriff’s Office arrested Harold Russell, 42, of 1010 Frosty Lane, Elizabethton, on Tuesday and charged him with aggravated burglary and resisting arrest.
According to court documents, around 4:15 a.m. on Tuesday deputies responded to a home on Hampton Creek Road in Roan Mountain after a 911 caller reported Russell had broken into the residence. On the previous day, according to court documents, CCSO Deputy Jerad Cook had responded to a call at the home where he removed Russell from the residence and told him not to return.
When Cook arrived at the home early Tuesday morning, he noted the deadbolt lock was still engaged, and the wooden frame around the lock was broken off and lying on the floor. Cook said when he was at the home on Monday, Oct. 2, around 4:20 a.m., the lock and door frame were intact at that time.
“When I entered the residence Mr. Russell was sitting on the couch, and when asked what happened to the door he stated that it had been like that for at least three weeks,” Cook said.
Cook then spoke with the owner of the home, Wade Cordell, who told the officer Russell came to the residence, but Cordell said he would not let Russell in.
“Shortly after that is when Mr. Russell kicked the door, breaking the door frame and entering the residence,” Cook said.
According to Cook, when he attempted to place Russell under arrest Russell began resisting, and the two struggled for a time before Cook was able to place him into handcuffs.
While transporting Russell from the home to the Carter County Detention Center, Cook said Russell began talking about the incident at the residence.
“Mr. Russell stated that ‘Wade would not let me in the residence so I kicked, I mean I pushed the door and it fell in,” Cook said.
Russell appeared in Carter County General Sessions Court on Wednesday morning, and Judge Keith Bowers Jr. reset the case to be heard on Friday.