SEQUOYAH COUNTY (KFSM) — Two brothers are behind bars and facing multiple charges after being linked to a string of burglaries across Sequoyah County.
Sheriff Ron Lockhart identified the two men as Coltin and Cody Sparks, both of whom are from Cookson, Oklahoma.
They brothers were arrested Monday morning (June 13) after a deputy responded to a break-in at Gene’s Dive Shop.
Lockhart said the brothers had entered the shop after breaking the window. The deputy who responded was patrolling at Lake Tenkiller when he heard the store’s alarm go off.
Both Sparks brothers were then taken into custody. Cody Sparks, 18, is being held on eight counts of burglary in the 2nd degree and a conspiracy charge. Coltin Sparks, 20, is being held three counts of burglary in the 2nd degree and a conspiracy charge. Bonds on both men have been set at $30,000 a piece.
Both men will appear before a Sequoyah County Judge for their initial arraignment on Wednesday, June 15 at 1:30 p.m.
Lockhart said the arrests come as a result of a joint investigation between the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and both
the Sallisaw and Gore Police Departments. The investigation spanned approximately three months.
“I appreciate the hard work of all agencies involved,” Lockhart said. “Over the past three months, we saw an increase in business burglaries throughout the county. We are glad these suspects are off the streets.”
Authorities said businesses burglarized by one or both of the Sparks brothers include:
- Smokin’ Goat Roadhouse
- Big Daddy’s Restaurant on Lake Tenkiller
- Gene’s Dive Shop
- The Ice House at McQuick’s (broken into twice)
- Fast Trip Store on Highway 17
- Shad’s Catfish Hole (broken into twice)
- Kiki’s Country Kitchen
- Tumbleweed Bar
