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Polk arrests two for breaking into a Mill Spring home

MILL SPRING—Being observant and knowing the county paid off recently as the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested two Rutherford County residents for breaking into a home in Mill Spring. 

David Arnold Blanton, of Ellenboro, was arrested and charged with possession of burglary tools and felony breaking and entering, according to sheriff’s office reports. 

Benjamin Sane, of Rutherfordton, was arrested and charged with possession of burglary tools, felony breaking and entering and misdemeanor larceny, according to sheriff reports. 

The break in occurred on March 6, and deputies observed a suspicious vehicle along Highway 9 in Mill Spring. The deputies then discovered that a home in the area had been broken into. After searching the victim’s property with the property owners, about an hour later, the owner located Blanton hiding on the property, according to sheriff reports. Blanton had burglary tools and stolen property in his possession. 

The sheriff’s office said deputies interviewed Blanton and learned that he had an accomplice, which was Sane. Initially, deputies searched the property but were unable to locate Sane. 

But later that day a deputy observed Sane walking along Highway 9 wearing a woman’s coat taken from the home earlier in the day. Sane was also found to be in possession of the key to the suspicious vehicle, which had led to the initial investigation. 

Sane gave the deputy a fake name and was taken into custody. 

“We’ve assigned our patrol deputies to geographic zones within the county to ensure faster response times and so that they can better identify suspicious activities,” said Polk County Sheriff Tim Wright. “This case is an example of that change working. Deputies knew the vehicle was out of place, were immediately able to contact the property owner, and after a thorough investigation apprehended both suspects.” 

Blanton was given a $10,000 secured bond. Sane was given a $14,000 secured bond.