Former Dyer Co. Sheriff Charged with Arson
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James “Tommy” Cribbs, once reigned over the old Dyer County Jail. But now he is forced to answer to current Sheriff Jeff Box. “None of us are above the law. We must set an example and actually obey the law ourselves,” added Sheriff Box. Sheriff Box said it took two attempts to burn the house at 1035 Newbern Roellen Road. He said after the first blaze, he began looking at the former sheriff very closely. “A firefighter stopped by and saw the fire and was actually able to put it out. At the time Mr.Cribbs was in the driveway with a disabled vehicle,” explained Sheriff Box. Investigators said the home belonged to Cribbs’ brother in-law, and that Cribbs had been seeing after it until February 26. “A few days later, this house became fully involved and burned again. At that time our department and Tennessee State Bomb and Arson investigators became involved,” said Sheriff Box. Authorities are not saying much about their investigation, but said they found enough probable cause to indict Cribbs on two counts of arson. According to District Attorney General Phillip Bivens, Cribbs may be in bigger trouble. “He had two other charges pending here from 2009. One that had been formally set for trial,” added Bivens. Court documents show Cribbs is no stranger to the law. He has previously been convicted of charges such as theft and aggravated assault. On Sunday, investigators said they arrested Cribbs and booked him into the Dyer County Jail. In less than 35 minutes, Cribbs posted a $10,000 bond and was once again a free man. Aside from his arson charges, Cribbs was already fighting his fourth DUI charge in court. But on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said, Cribbs was arrested for his fifth DUI charge by the Dyersburg Police Department.
