Man Charged With Throwing Rocks At Vehicle

A middle Tennessee man was arrested Tuesday after throwing rocks at a passing vehicle. It happened on Highway 73 in Cocke County. Gary Rayburn of Bellmont, NC told sheriff’s deputies that he was driving on Highway 73 near the intersection with Hwy 25/70 when a white male stepped out into roadway and threw two rocks at his truck. One rock hit his truck camper, breaking out the camper shell window. The other rock missed. Rayburn gave a description of the suspect and the clothing he was wearing at the time of the incident. Officers located a white male fitting the description and clothing nearby. That man would not give his identity to deputies, but through facial recognition software he was identified as 54 year old Michael Birdwell of Clarksville, TN. He’s been charged with vandalism.