MADISONVILLE (WATE) - A Monroe County man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly taking grand jury documents, and it's not the first time he's been accused of interfering in a grand jury matter.
Walter F. Fitzpatrick III was sentenced to 60 days in jail in December 2010 for trying to arrest a Monroe County grand jury foreman who refused to indict President Obama for treason.
In the most recent incident, county Court Clerk Marty Cook said a meeting was held Wednesday with the incoming potential grand jury for next year.
Jury pool members filled out forms with their personal information. The paperwork was given to Cook to be filed.
The paperwork was in the court room when the meeting ended, but Cook later noticed it was missing.
Video showed Fitzpatrick taking the documents, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. The information isn't public record.
Deputies with the sheriff's office went to Fitzpatrick's home, but failed to make contact with him. A note left for him didn't get a response.
Detectives got warrants and sought help from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the FBI to retrieve the documents.
The sheriff's office says none of the agencies were able to make contact with Fitzpatrick or get the documents.
Detectives also tried contacting Fitzpatrick through a neighbor, but the effort failed.
Sheriff's detectives and TBI agents then went to Fitzpatrick's home to execute the search warrant.
The sheriff's office says Fitzpatrick wouldn't come to the door so officers forced their way in and took him into custody without incident.
Officers seized electronic media storage and transmission components. The hard copy documents taken from the courthouse were not recovered.
Fitzpatrick is being held at the Monroe County Jail on a $1,000 bond.
Walter F. Fitzpatrick III (source: Monroe County Sheriff's Office)
