Shortly after 1 a.m. Monday, Crossville police were dispatched to the Citgo on Elmore Road to assist a sheriff’s deputy flagged down by a man reporting a theft.

The man, a manager for a newspaper-delivery company, said he was training 26-year-old James Charles Humphreys of Rockwood, a new employee. After loading some 120 newspapers into Humphreys’ vehicle on Peavine Road, they drove to the Citgo station to begin their deliveries. As the manager was getting payment from the clerk for the delivered papers, he realized Humphreys had taken off with the newspapers, leaving him stranded.

He called Humphreys’ cell phone multiple times, leaving messages for him to return the papers or face charges. He received no response. A police officer drove the manager back to his vehicle.

Shortly thereafter, Roane County Sheriff’s deputies located Humphreys’ vehicle at his home. They arrested him and confiscated most of the papers, which were returned to the delivery manager. Humphreys was charged with theft of property.