June 21, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
A man accused in a Saturday night kidnapping and sexual assault in Cookeville was found and arrested in Smithville Sunday.
29 year old Tyler Hall is charged with one count of aggravated sexual battery and two counts of aggravated kidnapping.
According to a press release from the Cookeville Police Department, the kidnapping occurred at the Sam’s Club in Cookeville but Hall then forced his victims to drive to Sparta.
“At approximately 11:56 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, the Cookeville Police Department was contacted by the White County Sheriff’s Office in reference to an incident that had originated at Sam’s Club in Cookeville. At approximately 10:34 p.m., two Sam’s Club employees were standing in the parking lot when they were approached by a white male, later identified as Tyler Hall. Hall then displayed a black pistol and ordered the pair into the female victim’s car. Hall ordered the male victim to drive them to White County. Near Walmart in White County, the male victim was able to wrestle the gun away from Hall. Hall then ran from the scene”. At that time he was wearing a red shirt, white shorts, and a gray hat. He was also carrying a camouflage backpack. Police said Hall was known to frequent homeless camps in the Cookeville area.
Hall was found in Smithville at the Dollar General Store Sunday afternoon and taken into custody by Smithville Police.
In a follow up press release Sunday, the Cookeville Police Department reported that “ At approximately 5:46 p.m. Sunday, June 20 the Cookeville Police Department was notified by the Smithville Police Department that Tyler Hall was in custody for four outstanding warrants. Officers with the Smithville Police Department had located Hall at the Dollar General Store in Smithville. Hall was transported to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department for booking.”
No other details were provided.