Couple claims sleeping as alibi for allegedly stealing television

On March 5, a couple who claimed they were only in town to go to the casino was arrested for burglary. Thursday, Marshall County Deputy Steve Beebe was contacted by Highway Patrolman Rodney Davis in reference to a suspicious activity report.

According to the report, Davis informed Beebe that he was contacted by an acquaintance of who lived in the Oakridge area. The reporting party claimed they watched a male and female – later identified as Johnathan Olive and Natalie Clarkson – exit the wooded area inside the gated community.

The witness also noted they watched the couple get into a white Cadillac sedan and leave the area. According to Beebe, after the couple drove off, the reporting party noticed a TV missing from a neighbor’s deck. The witness then found the couple a little bit later parked next to a burned down restaurant east of the Oakridge community.

Davis and Beebe both headed in the direction of the vehicle and found Olive asleep in the driver’s seat, and a large flat screen TV in the rear seat of the vehicle.

After a few attempts, Beebe was successful in waking Olive up, and inquired where the TV came from. According to the report, Olive’s explanation was a simple one, even if it might not be a feasible one.

“I fell asleep, and when my girlfriend came back to the car, she Beebe questioned further because he could not take Olive’s alibi at face value, and asked where Olive’s girlfriend was at. Oliver stated she walked to get gas.

Beebe located Clarkson and had her return to the vehicle so he could question her, and here is where it gets interesting. Beebe asked her where the T.V. came from and her reply was almost identical to Olive’s; that she fell asleep and woke up after Olive placed the T.V. in the rear seat. Beebe then detained the couple and returned to the crime scene where they found footprints matching Olive and Clarkson’s shoes.

The officers then searched their persons and found Meth pipes and other drug paraphernalia.

Olive, a 34-year-old male from Durant is facing charges for Second-Degree Burglary, Possession of Marijuana without a Prescription and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. An online search shows Olive has prior Oklahoma convictions for Resisting and Officer, Possession of CDS with Intent to Distribute, Obstructing an Officer, DUS, multiple convictions for DWI, multiple convictions for Possession of CDS, and Interference with Performance Duties of a Firefighter After the Formal Conviction of a Felony.

Clarkson is also being charged with Second-Degree Burglary, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her priors show as four convictions for Possession of CDS.