Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:26 pm

Sheriff’s officers conducting surveillance at a location where several fires were intentionally set apparently watched a man set a brush pile on fire Friday off state Route 96 West (Franklin Highway), a deputy reported.

Suspect Stewart Ellerbeck, 44, of 4704 Franklin Road was charged with reckless burning, Deputy Steve Craig reported.

Detective Randy Groce and Sgt. Barry Jones were watching the area for a potential arsonist after several fires in the neighborhood during the past few months.

“Detective Groce and Sgt. Jones witnessed Stewart Ellerbeck come out of his residence, walk to the brush pile and set the brush pile on fire,” Craig reported.

Ellerbeck was charged and booked into Rutherford County Adult Detention Center. A hearing is set Feb. 4 in General Sessions Court.

His wife asked deputies to take Ellerbeck’s handgun and ammunition for safekeeping.

In an unrelated case, Detective Todd Sparks charged Joe Bowen with three counts of robbery after Bowen was accused of holding up three men Friday.

Deputy Joseph Vann reported victim John May identified Bowen as the man who robbed him of $65 cash and wallet Friday morning.

Bowen and May met to sell a radio when Bowen allegedly struck May with a pistol, Vann reported. Bowen was also accused of striking May’s cousin, Matthew Loyer of Enon Springs Road with a pistol in his face. A second man was accused of putting a pistol into the face of May’s cousin, Chris Loyer, and robbing him of $120.

Once he was located, Sparks charged Bowen with three counts of robbery. His hearing was set Tuesday in General Sessions Court.