John Paul Dodd arrested as suspect in two Bradley County thefts

A man was arrested Wednesday after he was caught in the act of stealing air conditioner parts at a home on Rollingbrook Drive, Bradley County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Bob Gault said.

Police charged John Paul Dodd, 48, with making false statements to deputies and two counts of theft over $1,000 Gault said.

Dodd is in custody on $50,000 bond and has a hearing scheduled in General Sessions Court on Sept. 27.

Law enforcement responded to a neighbor’s call Wednesday morning. They found an air conditioner motor and compressor in the open trunk of Dodd’s car, Gault said.

The neighbor also told deputies that she recognized Dodd’s car as having been at the home in August when copper tubing and coils were stolen, Gault said.

Bradley County sheriff’s deputies previously arrested Dodd on May 15 during the investigation of a theft at the 7700 block of North Lee Highway, Gault said.

In that case, a welder, leaf blower, rifle and hand tools were taken from three barns, Gault said. The theft was videotaped and the property’s owner saw the suspect leaving and wrote down the license number and a description of the driver. Dodd returns to court in this case on Dec. 5.