A Carter County woman faces multiple charges after police say she stole a truck from a family member, damaged a piece of heavy equipment, and fled the scene of a motor vehicle accident.

Deputies of the Carter County Sheriff’s Office arrested Riketta Metcalf, 28, of 441 Cedar Grove Road, Johnson City, and charged her with vandalism over $50,000 and theft of a motor vehicle. Deputies also served her with an outstanding warrant charging her with violation of probation. Officers with the Elizabethton Police Department charged Metcalf with driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license, and leaving the scene of an accident.

On Friday night around 11 p.m., deputies with the Carter County Sheriff’s Office responded to the home at 441 Cedar Grove Road after receiving a report that a truck and stump grinder had been stolen from the residence.

When Deputy Jenna Markland arrived on the scene, she spoke with Mary Metcalf who said her daughter, identified as Riketta Metcalf, had taken her Chevrolet truck without permission along with a stump grinder which was attached to the back of the truck.

According to Markland, Riketta Metcalf drug the stump grinder with the truck down Cedar Grove Road and Milligan Highway before returning to the residence. Markland located Riketta Metcalf hiding inside a camper on the property after speaking with Mary Metcalf.

Markland also talked to a witness, Chad Johnson, who told the officer he had followed Riketta Metcalf in the truck from Milligan Highway until she returned to her home at 441 Cedar Grove Road.

Mary Metcalf told deputies the stump grinder was worth $200,000 and she estimated the damage caused to it to be at least $50,000.

While the deputies were at the Metcalf home, officers with the Elizabethton Police Department arrived at the scene due to investigating a hit-and-run wreck involving the stolen truck that took place within the city limits of Elizabethton.

Elizabethton Police Department Cpl. Matthew Taylor said shortly after 11 p.m. on Friday he and other officers were dispatched to the area of Milligan Highway to be on the lookout for a truck which had been stolen from a home on Cedar Grove Road. Shortly after being asked to search for the truck, Taylor said he received a call about a hit-and-run accident in the area.

When Taylor arrived on the scene, he spoke with Harold Limberg, who told the officer his vehicle had been struck by a large white truck pulling a piece of equipment. Limberg told the officer the truck drove away and continued Westbound on Milligan Highway.

Taylor received word that CCSO deputies had located the truck at 441 Cedar Grove Road and had a suspect in custody. Taylor went to the home to speak with the suspect, who was identified as Riketta Metcalf.

Riketta Metcalf told officers she had driven her father’s truck to a convenience store to purchase cigarettes.

“While speaking with (Riketta) Metcalf, I detected an odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from her person,” Taylor said, adding she stated she had consumed “two shots of vodka” before driving the truck. The officer also noted in his report that he observed track marks on Riketta Metcalf’s arms.

Officers had Riketta Metcalf perform a series of field sobriety tests, and Taylor noted she performed poorly on the tests.

Riketta Metcalf appeared in Carter County General Sessions Court on Monday morning and was arraigned on the charges against her. Judge Keith Bowers Jr. appointed the Public Defender’s Office to represent her and scheduled her to return to court on June 12. Riketta Metcalf remains held at the Carter County Detention Center under a total bond of $18,500.