TWO ARRESTED IN MONTEREY FOR FILING FALSE POLICE REPORTS
On March 3, 2026, at 3:00 pm, James Puckett (age 53) and Michael Puckett (age 26) were each arrested in Monterey, Tennessee, pursuant to separate Putnam County Grand Jury pickup indictments. Both men face charges of filing a false police report, a Class C felony, stemming from a fire that occurred on December 29, 2025, at 516 N. Holly Street.
The incident involved an outbuilding that became fully engulfed after a reported explosion, prompting a response from the Monterey Police Department, Monterey Fire Department, and assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Arson Investigation Unit.
Following the investigation, which benefited from valuable public tips, both individuals were transported to the Putnam County Jail, where they were booked and are being held on a $50,000 bond each. The Monterey Police Department publicly thanked the TBI and the community for their contributions to resolving the case.
