Thanksgiving break-in leads to arrest

As a result of a call on Thursday at approximately 11:09 a.m. from McCreary E-911 concerning a breaking and entering in progress at the Whitley City Shaolin School of Martial Arts in the Big M Plaza in Whitley City, Thanksgiving Day dinner was put on hold for the McCreary County Sheriff’s Office and a McCreary County resident ended up in jail. 

After receiving the E-911 call, McCreary County Sheriff Randy Waters and Deputy Alex Jones arrived at the scene and discovered that a male subject had made entry to the martial arts business through an air conditioning unit.  Via recently installed cameras, the male subject was monitored as he walked around inside the business.   When the subject seemed to disappear from the room, Sheriff Waters noticed a locked internal door that appeared to have been tampered with.  After making entry through the tampered door, officers found themselves in another building belonging to the Good Shepherd Catholic Church.  As Officer Jones was clearing the building, he discovered the male subject tucked behind the plumbing in a back room where breaker boxes are located.  

Deputy Jones instructed the subject to show his hands and come out of his hiding place.  Officers then arrested 34-year-old John Tyson Kelly of Stearns charging him with Burglary 2nd degree, Burglary 3rd degree, Criminal Mischief 2nd degree, and Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition of Property.  

After Kelly was arrested and secured, Officer Jones located knives inside the Catholic Church building that had been taken from the Martial Arts building.