ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. - A distant relative of a Hawkins County sheriff's deputy is charged with stealing the officer's service pistol.
The Kingsport Times-News reported the weapon was recovered.
Authorities said Deputy Rusty Ferrell was on vacation with his family last week and returned Saturday to find his .45 mm Glock pistol was missing.
The deputy's neighbor, who is distantly related to him, was quickly developed as a suspect. He is 22-year-old Dustin Alan Caldwell of Rogersville. The police report stated Caldwell admitted stealing the gun and told police who had it. Officers confronted two men who handed it over.
Investigators believe Caldwell traded the gun for drugs, but said that couldn't be proven.
Caldwell remained in the Hawkins County Jail, which had no record of an attorney for him.