Nichole Manna

The Jackson Sun

A Jackson police officer was indicted after the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said he filed false reports that his truck had been stolen.

Foy Tyson Blake Huckabee, 27, turned himself in Wednesday and was first booked at the McNairy County Jail and later at the Chester County Jail, where he is being held on a $10,000 bond.

Huckabee's uncle, Jimmy Baird, is also charged in the alleged scam.

Huckabee began working at the Jackson Police Department on May 12 and is still within his probationary period.

Maj. Thom Corley of the Jackson Police Department said Huckabee is on an unpaid administrative leave pending a disciplinary hearing, not fired, as the TBI reported in its news release.

Corley said Huckabee has been on leave since Tuesday.

The TBI said that Huckabee, of Selmer, filed a report with the McNairy County Sheriff's Department in December 2013 that his truck had been stolen. He was paid a claim by his insurance company, the TBI said.

During an investigation, TBI agents discovered that earlier this year the truck was in the possession of Baird with an altered VIN plate, the TBI said.

At the time of the vehicle's discovery, Baird resided in Chester County.

The Chester County Grand Jury indicted both Huckabee and Baird on charges of false or fraudulent insurance claim, possession of a vehicle with altered serial number and tampering with evidence.

Previously, Huckabee worked at the Selmer Police Department from August 2008 to April 2014 and at the Crump Police Department from May 2008 to August 2008.

Huckabee has had two disciplinary actions taken against him at the Jackson Police Department. Twice in August he was late for work. On Aug. 12 he was counseled, and his pay was reduced for time missed. On Aug. 17 he was given a written reprimand, and his pay was reduced again.

Baird, 37, of Bethel Springs, turned himself in at the Chester County Jail, and his bond amount was undetermined at the time of the TBI's news release.

The TBI and agents with the Tennessee Highway Patrol's Criminal Investigation Division, with the assistance of the McNairy County Sheriff's Department and Chester County Sheriff's Office, began investigating Huckabee on June 26 at the request of 25th District Attorney General Mike Dunavant and 26th District Attorney General Jerry Woodall.

Reach Nichole Manna at (731) 425-9657. Follow her on Twitter @NicholeManna