BEDFORD – A Bedford man is facing felony charges after allegedly stealing an air conditioning unit and damaging property at the Popcorn Christian Church.
Bryon Watson, 39, has been charged with theft, a Level 6 felony, and criminal mischief against a religious building or grounds, a Level 6 felony, in connection with an incident that occurred on October 31, 2024.
According to an affidavit for probable cause filed by Lawrence County Police Officer Thomas Porter, authorities were alerted to the theft by a groundskeeper, who reported the missing air conditioning unit and stated the church had surveillance footage of the incident.
Upon reviewing the footage, officers observed a suspect wearing an orange and blue sports team ball cap, dark jeans, black and red tennis shoes, and a dark t-shirt. The suspect also had a dark beard and tattoos. The video additionally showed a dark-colored Chevrolet Cruze with alloy rims, non-tinted windows, and a circular sports team sticker in the back window.
Utilizing a flock camera system, police tracked the vehicle to its registered owner. She informed officers that she had lent the car to her daughter, but not to her daughter’s husband, Bryon Watson. However, police noted that Bryon Watson’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) photo closely resembled the suspect in the surveillance footage.
Officers, including Sgt. Robin Compton and Officer Chris Griggs, proceeded to a home on C Street in Bedford, where they located the Chevrolet Cruze matching the description from the church’s camera footage. A female answered the door, and Officer Porter observed an orange and blue sports team ball cap, consistent with the suspect’s attire, on a bookshelf in the living room.
When asked about Bryon Watson’s whereabouts, the woman initially hesitated before stating he was at a friend’s house nearby. However, Sgt. Compton, after speaking with the woman’s son, located Bryon Watson hiding on the back porch. Watson was detained and read his Miranda Warning.
During initial questioning, Watson appeared upset and difficult to understand. The woman informed officers that Bryon suffers from mental illness and had been without his medication for several weeks. She also confirmed that Bryon had possession of the vehicle alone on the date of the incident, as she had him drop her off at work and take the car home.
When shown pictures from the church’s surveillance, the woman reportedly gasped and began crying. She then consented to a search for the air conditioning coil. In the basement, officers discovered aluminum and copper clippings, commonly associated with disassembled air conditioning coils, scattered on a concrete porch, along with tools.
Due to Bryon Watson’s medical condition, officers decided not to arrest him on site, giving the female time to get him back on his medication. However, they did take photographs of his tattoos and the tennis shoes he was wearing, which matched those seen in the church’s camera footage.
Officer Porter stated in the affidavit that, based on the collected evidence, including photos, video, and body camera footage, there is probable cause to believe Bryon Watson committed the alleged offenses—a warrant was requested for his arrest on the stated charges. He was detained on July 3, 2025.
A Probable Cause Affidavit outlines the initial findings and allegations that led to an arrest. Criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
