One of Hamilton's top fugitives arrested in Blount County

By Mark Boxley
of The Daily Times

A member of the Hamilton County's "12 Most Wanted Fugitives" list was reportedly found hiding in a closet at a Maryville home this week.

Thomas Lebron Masengale, 37, Harrison, was arrested on outstanding warrants by Blount County Sheriff's deputies at 11:20 a.m. Wednesday.

According to information from the sheriff's office, Masengale was believed to be at a house on Bramblewood Drive. When deputies arrived at the house and received permission to search for Masengale, they found him inside.

"Officers located Mr. Masengale hiding in a stand-up closet with clothes all about him," a Blount County Sheriff's report said.

Deputies took Masengale to the floor and arrested him without incident. A Maryville police officer also participated in the search and arrest.

Masengale was wanted in Hamilton County on warrants charging him with theft of property of more than $1,000 and violation of parole, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

Melissa McDonald, Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole communication director, said Masengale was under the board's supervision on a felony escape conviction from June 2004. The warrant on the violation of parole charge was filed before the board knew of Masengale's theft charge, she said, so the two do not appear to be related. McDonald did not have information available on what Masengale is accused of doing to warrant the parole violation charge.

A spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Corrections verified the felony escape conviction, saying Masengale had walked off from a work detail while previously incarcerated.

Information from the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Web site indicates that Masengale was at one point also wanted on four counts of felony theft of property. No information from the office was available on the nature of those, or any of the other charges.

Masengale was released to the custody of Hamilton County authorities and has been removed from the list of 12 most wanted fugitives in the county.