Madison Co. Sheriff’s Office shares new top 10 most wanted list

MADISON COUNTY, Tenn. — The Madison County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday unveiled the department’s first-ever “top ten” most wanted list.

“Everybody across the country has top 10, we decided we’d go ahead and do a top 10 for Madison County,” Sheriff John Mehr said.

Deputies with the sheriff’s office unveiled the new piece of wall art Wednesday afternoon, a display naming the 10 most wanted fugitives in Madison County.

“When they put them on the board, naturally we hope somebody sees them and calls Crime Stoppers,” Crime Stoppers Director Mike Johnson said. “When these people don’t show up for court or have been to court and don’t do what the judge tells them to do or the court orders them to, then they’re still running loose on the street. And the officers that are out chasing them can only do so much.”

The department has partnered with Crime Stoppers, which offers cash rewards for tips. Depending on severity of crime, a person could earn $50 to $1,000 per tip.

“Turn them in so we can go ahead and get those off the street,” Sheriff Mehr said. “Maybe that will help curtail some crime that’s occurring through Madison County and surrounding counties.”

The department hopes that with the top 10 fugitives being publicized, more people will buy into community policing and call in tips to Crime Stoppers that lead to arrests.

“So we just want to go out there and help capture some of these, and we want the citizen to be a part of it,” Sheriff Mehr said.

“You’re not going to have to testify in court. You’ll get a cash reward,” Johnson said. “Nobody will ever know who you are. We’re just trying to find these people, and it not only helps them, gets them a cash reward, but it helps the community.”

Photos of the county’s 10 most wanted are on display at the sheriff’s department. The department will also post a weekly update on their website.