BREAKING: Police Chiefs get together to solve Henagar school burglary

BREAKING: Police Chiefs get together to solve Henagar school burglary

PHOTO: Billy Blake, 40 of Fort Payne, was booked on charges related to the September 29 burglary at Henagar Junior High School (Mugshot not available as of print).

By Tyler Pruett, Managing Editor

tyler@southerntorch.com 

HENAGAR, Ala. — On Friday, September 29, 2017, a burglary targeted Henagar Junior High School. Approximately $3300.00 was stolen that students from the Henagar Junior Beta Club had raised by selling barbecue for their trip to attend a state convention in Birmingham. Valley Head Police Chief Nick Welden contacted Henagar Chief Randell Smith recently to see how the investigation was going, and the two got together to find the alleged perpetrator.

Billy Edward Blake, 40 of Fort Payne, was arrested today (October 16) at approximately 3:45 pm for Theft of Property (First Degree) and Burglary (Third Degree).

Welden said of the investigation: "Chief Smith and I got together and discussed the case, and he asked for my assistance on it. We followed some leads, made some phone calls, watched the surveillance footage, and we were able to put together enough evidence to make an arrest."

Chief Randell Smith said, "This would not have been possible without Nick's help. We were at a dead end in our investigation when he contacted me regarding the case."

Blake is currently being held in the DeKalb County Detention Center. Bail has not yet been set at this time.