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Three suspects were taken into custody by Alcoa detectives after a mysterious fire Sunday revealed that numerous explosives and hundreds of propellants had been stolen from ALCOA Inc. property.

Alcoa Police Detective Kris Sanders said he responded to the incident that began unfolding shortly after 7 a.m. Sunday when a 14 foot-by-6 foot utility trailer was discovered in flames off North Wright Road. Alcoa firefighters and police officers called Sanders when they realized a hasp had been cut off of the trailer.

It was also discovered that several pieces of equipment had been vandalized at the ALCOA construction site, located between the North and South plants.

The owner of National Drilling and Blasting told detectives the trailer was filled with equipment, explosives and hundreds of propellants. The owner said there were eight to 10 cases of large RocKracker propellants, with 20 propellants per case, and five cases of smaller Roc- Kracker propellants, with 40 propellants per case. Electric blasting caps were also in the trailer.

Realizing that most of the propellants were gone, detectives asked for the assistance of Blount County Sheriff's Deputy Matt Thompson and his K-9 partner Kopper.

"(Thompson) scented the dog off of some items we thought the suspect handled," Sanders said. "The dog tracked back to a campfire and then back into the woods."

Dog locates tag

The K-9 located a tag from a fire extinguisher, which Sanders said was important because extinguishers had been stolen and used to vandalize the property. Detective Sgt. Terry McGill and Officer Sayeed Rashid found a flashlight in the woods.

During the search, Sanders said a man who lived at a nearby residence came out and made some "questionable statements" to officers. He also lived at the residence where the campfire was located by the K-9. The man, identified as Thomas Houston Presley, 29, Wright Road, Alcoa, was taken into custody for investigation.

Detectives Sanders, McGill and Susan Burcham continued searching the woods. ALCOA employees, Alcoa Fire Department arson investigators and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) joined the search. Sanders said they wanted to check an area of the woods where a cave was located, because the K-9 had attempted to pull his handler in that direction multiple times.

They spread out and an AFD fire investigator ran across a pile of the propellants about a quarter of a mile into the woods. An ATF agent located a second pile of the propellants. The KPD bomb dog responded to search for more explosives, and the search continued.

Detectives began questioning Presley, and through their investigation, they discovered a second suspect was involved. They brought Jason Allen Tatum, 18, Wright Road, Alcoa, back to the construction site to get his assistance in finding all of the explosives.

"We explained to him that we're trying to find this stuff before kids get to them," Sanders said.

They called off the search late Sunday night and returned Monday to discover 291 wiring harnesses, which are used to ignite the RocKrackers, inside the trailer.

Three suspects interviewed

Through interviewing Presley and Tatum, Sanders said it was discovered that a third man was involved -- Andrew Douglas Lowe, 27, Wonderland Drive, Louisville.

"All three of them were at (Presley's) house, in his backyard, hanging out and drinking," Sanders said.

Sanders said Presley's property adjoins the ALCOA property, where the excavating was occurring. At about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Sanders said the three decided to climb the fence and look around.

While on the property, Sanders said the suspects allegedly started busting open cans of spray paint and used a bottle of paint to spray the side of a large dump truck.

Sanders said the suspects allegedly took fire extinguishers from backhoes, track hoes and bulldozers and emptied one inside of a track hoe. He said an extinguisher was stuck in the track of a track hoe, "which could have caused an explosion depending on how full the extinguisher was."

The suspects then allegedly broke into the trailer, removed the larger propellants and hid them during two trips to the woods. He said once the suspects realized their fingerprints may be on the trailer, they went back to set it on fire. A lit lighter was thrown into the area of the smaller propellants, causing the entire trailer to ignite in flames.

"They went back to one of the suspect's house and watched the fire for a few minutes," Sanders said.

Detectives also discovered that the suspects had taken about 30 electric blasting caps, which were later found at a residence belonging to a relative of Tatum. Officers recovered them and they were taken to the Knox County Sheriff's Office to be kept in a bomb-safe room.


The trailer, valued $6,000, contained equipment and tools worth $36,387. The propellants and explosives are worth $9,629.

Newman said ALCOA is grateful for Alcoa police officers, firefighters and ATF who "adeptly handled" the investigation. Sanders said the case was solved due to a multi-agency effort with APD, AFD, BCSO and ATF.

Sanders said charges against Presley, Tatum and Lowe are pending and may possibly include theft, burglary, vandalism, trespassing and arson.

'Everything was recovered'

"Everything was recovered and accounted for," Sanders said of the explosives and propellants.

According to RokTek's Web site, RocKrackers propellants are gas generating cartridges that "fracture and break up oversized boulders, mass rock, dimension stone and concrete without the need for high explosives and detonators."

The propellants have to be confined in a surface to operate. A special blasting license is not required, but an ATF low explosives use license is needed.

A blasting cap is a small explosive device, which is normally used to detonate a more powerful explosive such as dynamite. Sanders said blasting caps are classified by the ATF as an explosive.

Christy Newman, community relations manager for ALCOA Tennessee Operations, said the propellants were being kept on the property for excavating. She said the five acres located on Wright Road near the intersection with McArthur Road is being made into a "functional wetland." She said it will be a habitat for ducks and other animals.

"They were having to crush some rocks over there, and that is why that material was there," Newman said.

None of the stolen or vandalized items was owned by ALCOA. The equipment is owned by Shamrock Environmental, Brown Summit, N.C., and the trailer and propellants are owned by National Drilling and Blasting, Winston-Salem, N.C.