Bounty hunters on other side of arrest

By Staff
Melissa Cason
Instead of helping law officials with an arrest, two bounty hunters found themselves behind bars this weekend.
The Russellville Police Department charged two subjects with unlawful imprisonment and is seeking a third suspect after a weekend incident.
Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said Brian Eugene Miles, 28, 146 Braxton Road in Cherokee, and Nicholas James Topp, 22, 402 Montgomery St., Apt. T, in Sheffield, was charged with third-degree burglary, second-degree theft of property, and second-degree unlawful imprisonment.
Hargett said Topp and Miles allegedly handcuffed two individuals and searched their homes. The two men were working as bounty hunters searching for subjects who were out on bond in another county.
"The residents they handcuffed were not the ones they were looking for," Hargett said. "After (the defendants) left the residence, it was discovered that jewelry and other items were missing from the house."
Hargett said that two reports have been filed with his department but they have received numerous phone calls about this case.
According to the Alabama Criminal Code, second-degree unlawful imprisonment is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable with up to one year in prison upon conviction. The burglary and theft charges are Class C felonies, which is punishable with one year and one day to 10 years in prison upon conviction for each count.
During his arraignment Monday afternoon, Miles tried to explain his actions to District Judge Paula McDowell by saying the only reason he handcuffed one of the residents was because he was trying to fight with him.
"The only reason I handcuffed him was because he kept hitting me," Miles told the judge.
Both Miles and Topp have been released from custody on a $6,500 bond.
Hargett said the investigation of these incidents is not closed and that they are still searching for one more suspect.