RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN — A woman accused of illegally dumping trash along Asbury Road was arrested Tuesday after a correctional work center officer helped track her down through evidence found in the garbage.

Surveillance footage from the Rutherford County Correctional Work Center reportedly captured a woman dumping trash on Asbury Road on Monday. The following day, Work Center Officer John Johnson searched through the debris and discovered documents possibly linked to a suspect’s address, according to Lt. Jason Peralta.

Johnson then located a vehicle associated with the littering case parked on Hord Road and alerted the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies Jimmy Coleman and Tyler Purvis located the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Heather Nichole Morales of Maple Street in Smyrna. Deputies directed Morales to return to the scene and clean up the trash she had allegedly dumped.

Following the cleanup, Deputy Purvis charged Morales with littering and driving on a revoked license.

Morales was booked into the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center and later released on a $2,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on October 22.

Lt. Peralta praised the efforts of correctional work center staff in helping keep the community clean.

“It shows we are doing our part as county officials to show illegal dumping will not be tolerated,” said Peralta. “It’s going to show the public we are doing everything in our power to keep Rutherford County clean.”

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