A traffic stop in Hamilton County last weekend (Sunday, August 31, 2025) led to the arrest of a man wanted for causing over $500,000 in Critical Infrastructure Vandalism. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office says between late 2024 and August 2025, Joel Donald Brown of Ooltewah, Tennessee, repeatedly trespassed onto the Volunteer Ammunition property and caused extensive damage by cutting down power poles and removing de-energized high-voltage aluminum cables. Brown allegedly sold over 7.7 miles of aluminum cable as scrap, valued at more than $412,000.
Brown has been charged with the following in connection with this investigation:
– Critical Infrastructure Vandalism (Class A Felony) – (Damages over $510,000)
– Theft (Class A Felony) – (Theft valued at $412,140)
– Aggravated Criminal Trespassing (Class B Misdemeanor)
In addition, Brown was served with unrelated warrants for:
– Domestic Assault
– False Imprisonment
(Photos courtesy Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.)
