Ralph Lee Nelms
Ralph Lee Nelms was arrested for theft at a construction site on Tuesday in Bradley County.
Deputies responded to the 100 block of Keystone Drive regarding a theft in progress. Upon arrival, a man was observed getting into a silver Ford Ranger that was in the driveway of a house under construction. Contact was made with the man, later identified as Ralph Lee Nelms, who stated he was picking up scrap wood around the property that had been discarded.
During the investigation, deputies located numerous building supplies in the bed of the truck that were similar to items located by the house which was under construction: nine boxes of floor tile, two packages of anchor bolts, three 50-pound bags of mortar, three 25-pound bags of grout, and four rolls of flashing tape.
Deputies made contact with the builder of the house who said Nelms was never given permission to come to the property.
Nelms has been charged with theft over $500.