The Albany Police Department headed an investigation last week that led to the arrest of two Clinton County residents.

As a result of that investigation, Carolyn J. Davidson, 27, and Jimmy D. Smith Jr., 23, were arrested and charged with receiving stolen property under $10,000 which is a Class D felony charge.

Albany Police Detective Johnny Garner said more arrests were expected and the investigation is ongoing. He also said he served a warrant from Pickett County on Davidson for receiving stolen property over $10,000, which is a Class C felony. Both Davidson and Smith were lodged in the Clinton County Jail. Davidson is awaiting extradition on the Tennessee warrant. Also assisting in the investigation locally was the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department.

The original case came from Pickett County, Tenn., when a gun safe was reported stolen, along with other tools, at a Pickett County residence. The report on the stolen items was made on Tuesday, September 6, 2011.

According to the Albany Police Department, the suspects broke into the home and took the tools and items they could carry. During the burglary, they noticed the gun safe. The suspects left the home with the stolen property and allegedly returned to the home with a truck and trailer in order to get the safe.

The safe had multiple rifles and shotguns as well as several handguns and ammunition. According to the Albany Police Department, other items were also contained within the safe and some of those items have not been recovered.

One item that raised a red flag with officers was a zip lock bag of silver dollars. According to Garner, suspects tried to pawn the items at J and S Pawn Shop and the items were reported. Upon investigating the coins, Garner said the police department learned about the gun safe and all of the contents that were in it, which in turn, led to the arrests.

During the investigation, it was learned that the suspects had allegedly drilled holes in the bottom of the safe and then cut a hole in the safe with a electric recipricating saw in order to get the items out. After the safe was empty, it was dumped into Lake Cumberland at Rowena Landing, on the left side of the boat ramp.

Pickett County Sheriff’s Deputy Malcolm Johnson then requested the service of the Overton County Rescue Squad, which had volunteers equipped to dive into Lake Cumberland to retrieve the safe.

On Friday, September 16, all agencies involved with the investigation were on hand at Rowena Landing, and after a short time, divers found the safe 25 feet from the edge of the bank.

The safe was then wenched up and loaded on a wrecker and transported back to Pickett County. Pickett County Sheriff’s Deputy Johnson said when they got it back to Pickett County, he was going to try and get it open to see if any of the safe’s contents where left inside. There has been no official word if anything was found inside the safe after it was pulled from Lake Cumberland.

As of Monday, September 19, all of the firearms reported stolen have been recovered.

Garner said more indictments would be sought regarding this case.