Three Arrested Shortly After Allegedly Stealing Utility Trailer Near Ernest Ward Middle

December 29, 2022

Three people were arrested shortly after stealing a utility trailer from a home near Ernest Ward Middle School.

Miranda Faye Cardwell, age 36 of Cantonment; James Allen Casey, age 43 of Cantonment; and Clovis Clyde McClellan, age 38, were each charged with grand theft from a person age 65 or older and burglary of an occupied structure. McClellan was also charged with providing a false name to law enforcement.

Tuesday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was called about a utility trailer that has just been stolen from a home in the 4000 block of Highway 99A, near Ernest Ward Middle School. The victim told deputies that someone rang her doorbell, and then she saw  a white Jeep drive away with her utility trailer that had been under a covered shop. It was later discovered that a grill and propane bottle were also missing.

A responding deputy spotted the Jeep and trailer in a driveway on Highway 97 north of Gibson Road and held all three suspects at gunpoint until backup arrived, according to an arrest report.

At the time of his arrest, McClellan provided another name, but a fingerprint check at the jail revealed his actual name, the report states.

The trailer, grill and propane bottle, valued at $1,950 total, were returned to the owner.

All three suspects remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning.

Deputies also reported finding 14 unopened pieces of U.S. Mail belonging to four other individuals on Highway 97 in the passenger seat of the vehicle. One of the owners of the mail stated that he wished to pursue charges, Deputies were not able to immediately determine who had stolen the mail and no charges were filed.

Pictured top: (L-R) Suspects Casey, Cardwell, and McClellan.

Comments

16 Responses to “Three Arrested Shortly After Allegedly Stealing Utility Trailer Near Ernest Ward Middle”

  1. Duke of Waebeek on January 1st, 2023 9:14 am

    They remind me of second rate supporting actors, cast in a bad B rated action movie.

  2. Bobby on December 31st, 2022 8:37 am

    Mr.Carlee, i appreciate you and your service and here you are doing it still even In retirement! It makes me feel good to know there are good people such as yourself out there willing to give a hand to others.

  3. Glenn Carlee on December 30th, 2022 10:12 pm

    I pulled up on this scene just as the officer made the traffic stop, he had one suspect in the cruiser and two on the ground, he was the only Deputy on the scene at this time and I want to compliment him on how he handled this situation he was very professional, calm and in control without being aggressive, as i got his attention I displaced my retirement badge and asked if i could help him. He asked me to monitor the 3rd suspect on the ground while he secured the second suspect. Moments later two additional deputies arrived and secured the scene. The residents of Escambia County have a Sheriffs Department to be proud of. I don’t know any of these deputies by name but I assure you they acted professionally and were courteous to all that were involved. Please support these officers and others, and thank them for serving.

  4. ensley boy on December 30th, 2022 5:38 pm

    They said they were not able to determine who stole the mail, so no charges were filed. Is there a statue for the possession stolen mail?

  5. mnon on December 30th, 2022 7:08 am

    I had an older big-screen TV that worked great, but no one wanted it. My folks said to put it by the road with FREE on it. I said You could do that in the 80s, today you will get a meth head snooping around your property if they think you can give away a free big screen TV. NOPE, I let it sit out by my shed in the weather and ruin. This is the case in point. This northern area (97) use to be good all the way up. Now it’s turning into a sprawl with all the people moving into the area. Now that is happening the bad elements are working their way out here. I just hope in 20 years my area of 97 is not the hood.

  6. Panhandler on December 29th, 2022 7:48 pm

    FLORIDUH!

  7. Kc on December 29th, 2022 12:14 pm

    Wow I thought all the thieves and crack heads lived on frank ard rd in cantonment

  8. CONCERNED on December 29th, 2022 11:20 am

    I JUST WISH WE , AS A COMMUNITY, WOULD STOP HAVING TO FEED THESE PEOPLE,..

  9. Wayne on December 29th, 2022 11:20 am

    You cant humiliate people as these 3..
    They do it all to well on thier own.
    Doesnt affect them at all.

  10. Steve on December 29th, 2022 10:32 am

    glad somebody rang the doorbell , just in case video surveillance was down .

  11. RaD on December 29th, 2022 9:45 am

    In escambia county alone:
    Caldwell – Previous arrests for fraud and larceny.
    Casey – Previous arrests for battery, burglary, larceny, vehicle theft
    McClellan – none but has a hold for Talledegah County Al.

    These people are not going to stop what they are doing, as they have proven. Send them away for 20-30 years.

  12. ISPY on December 29th, 2022 9:42 am

    Awwwws shucks, they were just mething around.

  13. sam on December 29th, 2022 8:49 am

    we have way too many of these characters roaming around the county. watch your property folks they are everywhere.

  14. Bill T on December 29th, 2022 8:17 am

    SHAME SHAME SHAME!!!! Y’all don’t need to steal!!!!

  15. JustSaying on December 29th, 2022 7:10 am

    Stealing mail is a Federal Crime, bottom line. Check washing is way to prevalent in this area lately, had to shut down an account because of it. Glad someone is pressing charges.

  16. Northender on December 29th, 2022 1:22 am

    That’s just meth’d up man…..

    That’s why we have a locked mailbox.
    Glad the owner of the mail wants to press charges. I would too.