RINGGOLD, Ga. -- When investigators lost evidence in his brother's criminal case, state Rep. Tom Weldon told them an unknown culprit sneaked away with it, multiple sources told the Times Free Press.
The Catoosa County Sheriff's Office arrested Wesley Gage Weldon on Feb. 13 on charges of possessing methamphetamine, trying to make methamphetamine and holding tools used to commit a crime. Investigators took pictures at Wesley Weldon's house, apparently showing the drugs as the sheriff's office found them.
But Detective Scott Jordan later realized someone left the camera behind. He applied for a search warrant four days after Wesley Weldon's arrest, while Weldon remained in jail. When Jordan arrived at the house, an incident report shows, the camera was missing.
Jordan's report does not give a reason for the camera's disappearance. Multiple law enforcement sources, however, say Tom Weldon provided an explanation.
One source with direct knowledge of the investigation said the state representative told members of the sheriff's office that burglars ransacked Wesley Weldon's house after his arrest. This is why the camera is missing
But in the four days between the arrest and the search for the camera, records show, nobody called 911 to report a crime at the house, located at 1179 Potts Road. The Catoosa County Sheriff's Office also does not have any incident reports for that crime at that location during that time.
Tom Weldon Tom Weldon did not return multiple calls or an email Thursday asking him about the burglary claims. Asked the same question last week, he told the Times Free Press he could not comment because of attorney-client privilege. He plans to represent his brother in court.
"I can't talk to you about that," he said.
Catoosa County Sheriff Gary Sisk said Thursday the camera has not been found. Sisk said he was at the Georgia Capitol on Wednesday for Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and talked to Tom Weldon about other issues, but said he didn't know if Weldon blamed the camera's disappearance on a burglary.
"He could have said that to one of [the detectives]," Sisk said. "I don't recall."
Wesley Weldon sat in the Catoosa County Jail from Feb. 13-27. The sheriff's office arrested him again for violating the terms of his bond on March 6, and he remained behind bars Thursday.
Investigators arrested Weldon the first time after his ex-wife requested a restraining order. Though the terms of their divorce in November dictated that they could not harass each other, his ex-wife said she received a voicemail from him.
She said it sounded like he was talking to somebody else while the phone recorded him: "Grab the AK. [Expletive] that [expletive]. Let's see how he likes a gun in his mouth. Let's go."
When deputies arrived to serve Wesley Weldon with the restraining order, according to an incident report, they found methamphetamine, two "smoking devices," two digital scales and hypodermic needles. They also found rock salts and HEET, an antifreeze with methanol, which investigators believe Wesley Weldon used to make the drug.
"Detective [Jeremy] Keener asked Weldon if he injected methamphetamine, to which he responded, 'No,'" Jordan wrote in the report. "Weldon was asked if he injected pills, to which he responded, 'Yes.'"
Contact staff writer Tyler Jett at tjett@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476.