A local man’s alleged burglary spree came to an abrupt halt after he ran out of gas and inadvertently left his getaway vehicle—packed with stolen goods—right at the scene of the crime.

According to a press release from Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris, the incident began on June 20, 2026, when Sgt. Maynard and Deputy Cravens responded to a residential burglary report on County Farm Road. The homeowner reported a suspicious gray Dodge truck on the property and noticed a piece of plywood missing from the home’s structure.

Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Detectives Etheredge and Williams soon arrived to investigate. Upon inspecting the gray Dodge truck, detectives discovered multiple stolen items from the residence hidden in the truck’s bed beneath a black tarp.

The suspect, identified as Joseph Lewis, was nowhere to be found when authorities arrived. Investigators later learned that Lewis had run out of gas and left the property to ask a nearby resident for a ride to buy fuel. While he was away, deputies processed the scene and had his truck towed.

Piecing together the timeline using witness statements, scene evidence, and surveillance footage from local homes and businesses, detectives quickly pinned the crime on Lewis. With the assistance of the White County Sheriff’s Office, Lewis was located and taken into custody without incident.

Lewis has been charged with:

• Burglary

• Theft of Property

• Possession of Burglary Tools

At the time of his arrest, Lewis also had an active Violation of Probation warrant. He is currently being held on a $51,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on July 27, 2026.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office states that the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information regarding this case is urged to contact Detective Williams at (931) 528-8484.