A pair who had been living in the woods and stole a license plate from a wrecked vehicle were tracked down and jailed over Memorial Day weekend, according to Polk County Police reports.
Police found the campsite and makeshift residence of James Robert Dutton of Rome and Tracy Jean Dutton of Silver Creek around the area of 1170 N. Main St., Cedartown around Factory Connection and the laundromat after they were spotted in a Mitsubishi Montero doing laundry at the above address and had used a stolen license plate on the vehicle that has been reported.
Officers realizing the plate was stolen had left the area and was coming back to further investigate but lost track of both of the Dutton suspects who had been spotted going in to do laundry, and thought to have gone in the Dollar General. During a search of the area the found the campsite along with an aggressive dog tied to a tree, mail that belonged to Tracy Dutton, and what police defined as “Code 25,” which they destroyed. Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office along to help found another man in a camp site nearby, but it was not the suspect being sought.
Police then went back to the Mitsubishi Montero and recovered the license plate after gaining entry through a broken rear window, then left the vehicle as they found it.
Officers swore warrants out for the pair, and ultimately caught up with them on Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m.
Both James Robert Dutton and Tracy Jean Dutton remained in the Polk County Jail on charges of theft by receiving stolen property. James Dutton was also booked on a bench warrant.
Tracy Dutton was being held on a $1,000 bond. No bond had yet been set for James Dutton.
