A Groceville man’s life must be starting to feel like the movie “Groundhog Day,” in which the main character keeps waking and living the same day over and over.
Raymond Paul Griffis, 52, was arrested for theft in Montgomery County in late October after he was caught in possession of a stolen ATV belonging to Jamie Metts, the son of Montgomery County Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace James Metts.
Jamie Metts had seen a man later identified as Griffis and other suspects during the commission of the crime and pursued them, along with some friends and even the judge. In the end, Jamie Metts found Griffis unloading his 4-wheeler at a mini-storage where he blocked the driveway and called law enforcement.
Griffis was arrested, later posted bond and went about his merry way until a month later. Incredibly, in late November, Walker County Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace James Mature and his grandson, Kenneth, caught thieves in the act of breaking into a gate on the family’s property to reach the younger man’s 4-wheelers.
The thieves fled, and like the Metts family, Judge Mature’s family pursued them. Just as in Montgomery, the thieves briefly got away, but were eventually caught by the family determined not to be victims.
Raymond Paul Griffis was again arrested and charged due to an unsuccessful attempt to steal a 4-wheeler from a judge’s family. He posted bond and was released.
For unconfirmed reasons, the bonding company that helped free Griffis after his encounter with the Metts family and Montgomery County law enforcement withdrew their surety.
A warrant was issued and Montgomery County Pct. 4 Constable Rowdy Hayden and company traveled to Groceville where they arrested Griffis and transported him to the Montgomery County Jail for trying to steal a 4-wheeler from Judge Metts’ family.
Griffis was later released on bond…
