A 31-year-old Crossville man is set to appear in court again tomorrow, facing a mountain of criminal charges following a months-long crime spree involving storage unit burglaries, retail thefts, and stolen goods hauled across county lines.

Dakota Dalton Whittington was taken into custody by the Crossville Police Department on June 9, 2026, after law enforcement linked him to multiple thefts across the area, including several high-value incidents where he allegedly operated a U-Haul truck and trailer.

Early Morning Traffic Stop Uncovers Walmart Theft

The latest string of arrests began in the early hours of June 9, when Patrol Officer Braxdon King initiated a traffic stop on a U-Haul truck pulling out of a Rural King parking lot with a broken brake light. The vehicle matched a “Be On the Lookout” (BOLO) description from a recent theft at the Obed Plaza Walmart.

According to police reports, security footage at Walmart captured Whittington moving a laptop to the store’s garden section and concealing it inside a stolen backpack—with a combined value of $1,177—before walking out.

A search of the U-Haul during the traffic stop yielded the stolen Walmart items, alongside metal shelving grates and support beams. Whittington was initially arrested for the Walmart theft and for driving on a suspended license.

Scrap Metal, Charity Theft, and Multiple Retail Targets

Later that evening, investigation into the metal shelving found in the U-Haul revealed they had been taken from behind the Rural King store. Police re-contacted Whittington at his residence, where he admitted to taking the $270 worth of shelving—claiming he thought it was free—and transporting it to a recycling yard in Rockwood, Tennessee.

On the same day, police responded to a separate report at the Hilltoppers donation building on East First Street. Security footage from that location also showed a suspect driving a U-Haul truck and trailer. Whittington was identified from surveillance stills in connection with $1,400 worth of missing property, including purses, a mattress, and a clear jewelry case. While chains and locks were found cut at the scene, the property representative declined to press criminal charges, requesting instead that Whittington be formally banned from the premises.

These incidents add to earlier retail theft allegations, including a March charge for stealing a $329 DeWalt drill combo kit from Lowe’s.

Thousands in Stolen Storage Unit Goods and Drug Charges

Whittington’s June arrests follow an extensive investigation led by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office into a major March 5 burglary at Advanced Storage on Highway 70 East.

Investigators discovered multiple units had been broken into, with tens of thousands of dollars in property stolen and subsequently resold to local pawn shops. Items recovered or reported stolen included:

• $16,320 in firearms accessories, ammunition, power tools, precious metals, and outdoor gear.

• $6,075 in specialized archery equipment and fishing gear.

• $3,049 in electronics, including a MacBook Pro, and power tools.

During questioning on March 10, Whittington confessed to the storage unit break-ins. Just days later, on March 18, he was charged with simple possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia after deputies found a glass pipe and 3.46 grams of meth under his seat during a traffic stop.

Court Appearance Scheduled

Whittington is currently booked into the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office jail with bond set at $16,000.

According to the Cumberland County General Sessions Court docket, Whittington is scheduled to answer to a extensive list of charges, including multiple counts of felony theft, burglary, theft of merchandise, simple possession, and driving with a suspended license.