Burglary suspect racks up more charges on the way to jail

Limestone County deputies say a suspect they arrested for a recent burglary ended up with even more charges on the way to the jail. According to the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responding to a possible burglary on Oct. 6 in the 13000 block of Sugar Plum Lane west of Madison arrested Mitchell Joseph Caldwell, 43, of Athens.

“During the reporting of the robbery, the victim provided our dispatchers with a description of the suspect and the vehicle that he used to leave the scene. Our dispatchers immediately issued an area-wide ‘be on the lookout’ (BOLO) for the vehicle,” stated a press release from the sheriff’s department. “ALEA State Trooper Casey Terry quickly spotted the vehicle about three miles from the scene on Highway 72. Deputies Caleb Ryan and Mike Bloodworth responded to Trooper Terry’s location. Trooper Terry noticed the driver and lone occupant of the vehicle reaching in between the seat and the console. Deputy Ryan identified the driver as Mitchell Joseph Caldwell and found him to have active warrants with Madison County. Deputy Ryan asked Caldwell why he was reaching in between his seat and Caldwell told him to ‘just go get the dope’.”

The sheriff’s office said during a search of the vehicle, 49 grams of methamphetamine were found between the seat and console, where Caldwell had been reaching, as well as drug paraphernalia. Deputy Bloodworth transported Caldwell to the Limestone County Detention Center for his outstanding warrants, and his new charge of drug trafficking.

During Caldwell’s transport, he allegedly offered Deputy Bloodworth up to $20,000 to release him from custody. “Deputy Bloodworth refused Caldwell’s offers and he subsequently received an additional charge for Bribery of a Public Servant,” the press release stated. “Caldwell shared with Deputy Bloodworth that he was on the run from a prison sentence for burglary in Madison County and did not wish to return to prison. The alleged robbery is currently under investigation and more charges are possible.”