On September 11, 2025, at 11:06 AM, City Units were dispatched to Cleveland Street (CMC) in Crossville following a theft report. The caller reported leaving their iPhone 11, valued at $600, in a Walmart restroom around 10:00 AM. After realizing the mistake, they checked with Walmart’s Customer Service by 10:15 AM, but the phone had not been turned in.

Using the Find My iPhone feature, the caller tracked the device to Methodist Campground before it was turned off. Later, the phone reactivated and pinged at CMC, where the caller confronted Michael Adam Howard in the ER restroom.

Howard initially denied taking the phone but eventually returned it. After being read his Miranda Rights, Howard declined to discuss the theft.

During his arrest, he admitted to having a syringe in his underwear, and at the jail, he disclosed narcotics in his possession.

Correctional Officers recovered approximately 0.49 grams of purple powder (suspected Fentanyl), 0.28 grams of white powder (suspected Methamphetamine), 0.60 grams of pink powder (suspected Fentanyl), an orange Suboxone pill, and 0.82 grams of additional pink powdery and pasty substances (suspected Fentanyl) from Howard’s underwear.

All paraphernalia was disposed of, and the narcotics were placed into evidence at the Crossville Police Department. Howard was charged with Theft of Property, Contraband in a Penal Institution, and Simple Possession of Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and a Schedule III substance.