BLOUNTVILLE -- A Bristol, Tenn. man was arrested on theft charges late last week after he allegedly stole a Sullivan County teacher's debit card while she was on a field trip with her class at a local park.
Jorge Cervantes, 30, Kendricks Hollow Road, Bristol, Tenn. was arrested April 26 by the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office on a single count of theft and two counts of identity theft.
According to police reports, the incident allegedly occurred April 18 when a Blountville Elemntary School teacher was on a field trip at Steele Creek Park with her class.
The teacher reportedly left a bag containing her wallet in a building next to the lake while she was on the playground with her students. Authorities said the teacher was notified by Eastman Credit Union a short while later that her account had been used to make several suspicious purchases. It was after that alert from the credit union that the teacher noticed her wallet was missing, authorities said.
Authorities said three of the suspicious purchases were made at a Sears located on Gate City Highway in Bristol while another was made at the Scotchman Market on West State Street in Bristol.
Authorities obtained surveillance footage from the convenience store, which allegedly showed a man later identified as Cervantes using the victim's card. Witnesses also reportedly told investigators that Cervantes was seen at the park prior to the card being taken from the teacher's wallet.
Cervantes was transported to the Sullivan County Correctional facility following his arrest. Cervanted is being arraigned this morning in Bristol, Tenn. General Sessions Court.