Man Caught Stealing Excavator From Helton Electric

A Newport man is in jail after stealing an excavator and trailer. The Cocke County Sheriff’s office was dispatched to Helton Electric on Hwy 25E late last week. They reported that an unknown man had attached a trailer containing an excavator to a beige Chevrolet SUV. Through security camera footage, police were able to get a tag number of the vehicle. It was registered to a female on Apple Court Drive in Newport. At that address, deputies found 48 year old Shannon Gann, who matched the picture of the man seen in the security footage. Gann, who originally denied taking the excavator, admitted to stealing the equipment when confronted with the security video. Gann told deputies where they could find the excavator and trailer valued together at over $50,000. Gann told deputies he took the excavator because he needed the money.