AP News, October 10th, 2007
A National Guardsman was charged with attempting to kill Rutherford County's sheriff after an off-duty state trooper spotted him walking with an assault rifle slung on his shoulder.
Bruce Bailey, a former deputy who once worked under Sheriff Truman Jones, was arrested Monday night a short distance from Jones' property. Police said he had previously threatened the sheriff.
Bailey was charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated criminal trespassing and carrying a weapon on school property. It wasn't immediately known if he had retained an attorney.
Bailey was spotted by Trooper Anthony Caudle, who was standing outside a nearby church.
Caudle, a military veteran who serves on Gov. Phil Bredesen's security detail, said Bailey approached Caudle and another man, and the trooper asked about the rifle. Bailey described it as a "play gun."
"I'm a veteran and knew that was not a paintball weapon," said Caudle, who asked to see the rifle. "I just wanted to get close to it, so I could disarm it. I was basically able to talk him into releasing the weapon."
Caudle took the weapon apart and stored it in his truck before calling authorities.
Bailey was fired from the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department in November 2002 after a fight at a bar in Bowling Green, Ohio.
"It's my understanding he's made threats toward the sheriff before," Detective Sgt. Dan Goodwin said. "We have increased security for the sheriff and his family. The sheriff is doing just fine. He's irritated more than anything. He's a tough character."
Goodwin said Bailey had recently been serving with the Guard full-time in McMinnville.
