Two people were arrested at an Ooltewah mobile home park late Thursday, a day after the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office began investigating management for allegedly hoarding donated supplies intended for residents after an EF3 tornado left one dead and dozens displaced late on Easter Sunday.
Steven West, 64, and Kimberly West, 49, have both been charged with theft over $60,000 and criminal conspiracy to commit theft over $60,000. Their bonds were set to $10,000 each. They are expected to appear in court on April 28.
They were taken into custody at their residence at the Auburn Hills mobile home park around 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
Chief Deputy Austin Garrett told the Chattanooga Times Free Press late Thursday that the two arrests had been made at the property.
“During these traumatic events which have affected so many in our community, the HCSO wants to assure the public we take all allegations of victimization extremely serious,” Garrett wrote in a news release.