Two arrested for McMinn County home invasion, two still wanted
(Left to Right): John Barnes, Benjamin Scott Croft, Marcus Bradford, Daniel Velasquez
MCMINN COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Two people have been arrested and two are wanted in connection to an attempted home invasion in McMinn County.
A 5:30 p.m., September 12, 2024, deputies responded to a 911 dispatch report of three armed males trying to break into a residence on County Road 651.
The Sheriff’s Office also reported that the homeowner had locked herself in a bathroom with a firearm.
When deputies arrived, they saw a black Kia Optima on County Road 651 acting suspicious.
Deputies detained the driver of the Kia, Marcus Bradford, who matched a description of one of the suspects involved in the home invasion.
Other deputies approached the residence and spoke to the homeowner.
In the report from the sheriff’s office, the victim stated two white males and a black male kicked her door in, demanding for her jewelry while pointing rifles at her.
The victim proceeded to yell at them, telling them to leave while she went to grab a firearm.
After all three victims fled the scene, she was able to give good descriptions of the suspects to deputies, leading to positive identifications.
Marcus Bradford spoke with deputies, saying he brought the other suspects there and that they had left behind their phones and wallets in his car.
Bradford was later brought into custody and is being held at the McMinn County Justice Center.
After searching the surrounding area, deputies located Daniel Velasquez, another suspect in the home invasion.
He was also taken into custody.
Bradford is being charged with the following:
- Aggravated Robbery
- Possession of Schedule 2 Cocaine
- Possession of Schedule 2 Suboxone
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Bradford is being held under a $100,000 bond.
Velasquez is being charged with Aggravated Robbery and is being held under an $80,000 bond.
Two suspects, Benjamin Scott Crofts and John Percy Barnes, are currently being sought after by law enforcement.
Both are being charged with Aggravated Robbery.
