Nichole Manna

The Jackson Sun

An investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the indictment of a Jackson police officer and his uncle on charges of filing false reports and tampering with evidence, according to the TBI.

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

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 the course of the investigation, TBI agents discovered that earlier this year the vehicle was in the possession of Huckabee's uncle, Jimmy Baird, with an altered VIN plate, TBI said.

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

On Oct. 13, the McNairy County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Huckabee, 27, with one count of Filing a False Report.

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.

Huckabee, who is a Jackson police officer, 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.

Previously, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reported that Huckabee had been terminated from the police department.

But according to Jackson police officials, Huckabee is only on an unpaid suspension, pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing, which will determine what will happen to Huckabee's employment.

Huckabee is still a probationary officer and according to his personnel file began employment with police department on May 12.

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, according to his personnel file.

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