Former Jacksboro police officer accused of vandalizing vice mayor’s home with Vienna sausages

JACKSBORO, Tenn. (WATE) — A former Jacksboro police officer is facing a vandalism charge after he allegedly threw cans of Vienna sausages at the Vice Mayor’s home earlier this month.

An affidavit from the Campbell County General Sessions Court states that the Jacksboro Vice Mayor reported to a Campbell County Sheriff’s Deputy that he was laying in bed on July 11 around 11 p.m. when he heard “several loud thumps” on the exterior of his home. The deputy noted in the affidavit that he noticed two busted windows facing the roadway and cans of Vienna sausages that had been run over in the driveway.

During the course of the investigation, the deputy noted that one of the cans of sausages was a brand only sold at Walmart. The deputy then went to a local Walmart store.

When the officer arrived at Walmart, he spoke with a cashier who remembered throwing away a receipt that morning from the night before. Although the cashier and customer service were not able to initially help the deputy, the affidavit said he later received a call from Walmart and was later given the receipt and camera footage.

The video reportedly showed Joseph Weaver checking out at 10:44 p.m. on July 11, but only scanning 7 of 15 cans of Vienna sausages as well as a black T-shirt before going out and getting into a dark-colored van. The deputy wrote that he saw the same van on security video driving on a road near the Vice Mayor’s home just minutes before it and the vice mayor’s vehicle were pelted with the cans of sausages.

Through the course of investigation, the deputy identified three others who were with Weaver: Campbell County corrections officer Jeremy Weinberg, LaFollette police officer Mallory Campbell , and a third man.

Weinberg told the deputy that he, Weaver, Campbell and the third man had been eating and drinking alcoholic beverages at the Indian River Marina when Weaver became agitated about the incident that led him to resign from the Jacksboro Police Department. When the group left the marina together, Weaver reportedly said he needed to stop by Walmart, but did not say why.

Weinberg said after the van parked at the Walmart, Weaver went in alone, and when he came back, the other three asked Weaver why he purchased so many cans of Vienna sausages, to which the affidavit says Weaver only stated that “it was going to be funny.”

Weaver then reportedly drove to the area of the Vice Mayor’s home, turned the lights off in the van, and parked along the side of the road. According to the report, Weaver told the group to follow him and went to the house with the cans of Vienna sausages, followed by Weinberg and the other man, while Campbell waited in the car. Weinberg then said he saw Weaver throw the first can of sausages at the home, stated that he wanted no part of what was happening and returned to the van. The deputy noted that Weinberg added that he did not see the other man throw anything before he left.

The deputy wrote that he spoke with Weaver who took sole responsibility for the incident. Weaver is facing charges of vandalism over $2,500 and theft under $1,000, according to an arrest warrant.

Since the incident, Weinberg was fired on Monday, July 15 for policy violations, according to Campbell County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Cody Chapman. LaFollette City Administrator Stan Foust also confirmed that Campbell, a full-time police officer, resigned on July 13, but if she had not, she would have been suspended pending the investigation.

“The City of LaFollette does not condone behavior like this, whether they are on or off the clock,” Foust said.

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