CHEATHAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — A mother is thanking the Cheatham County Sheriff's Office for getting her 3-year-old child home safely over the weekend.

The recognition comes following an incident that unfolded at a supermarket in Cheatham County on Sunday, Nov. 2.

Body camera footage obtained by News 2 shows the moments as undercover agents with the CCSO searched aisles before racing to the back of the store, which is where law enforcement found a man and young girl.

As seen on video, a deputy held the little girl while three other deputies converged on 27-year-old John Anthony Beal—the child's father.

Beal was taken into custody and could be heard telling his daughter that he loved her before being escorted out of the store.

When News 2 spoke with the child's mother, she said she feared Beal would harm their daughter after she was made aware that he had relapsed on drugs.

According to the mother, she and Beal share custody of the 3-year-old girl. In addition, she alleged that the girl had been missing for weeks after Beal didn't return her when he was supposed to.

"Cheatham County deputies swooped in, what was that like?" asked News 2's Andy Cordan.

"It was bittersweet, I was terrified for my daughter," replied the mother. "This would be now her seventh time watching her dad get arrested. I knew it would be yet another traumatic event for my daughter, but I also knew I was getting my daughter back and she was safe."

CCSO Lt. Shane Dunning told News 2 that deputies were alerted that Beal and the child were in Cheatham County and spent most of Sunday looking for him.

After receiving help from the child's mother, who reportedly got Beal to agree to meet at the store, deputies surrounded the location and swooped in once the father/daughter duo arrived.

According to Dunning, Beal is known to carry weapons and was considered to be armed and dangerous.

Records from the Tennessee Department of Correction reveal that Beal was convicted of aggravated burglary in 2017 and sentenced to four years of probation. Then, after his probation was revoked in 2019, he was sent to TDOC custody.

In 2021, the 27-year-old was reportedly granted parole and completed that parole in November of that year.

The mother told News 2 she is relieved to be reunited with her child.

"I just want to say thank you to each and every one of those officers and lieutenants who helped me that night," she expressed. "If it wasn't for you guys, I would have never got her back."

According to investigators, Beal is suspected of multiple guns theft and law enforcement ultimately recovered several weapons, including an AR-15.

When law enforcement searched Beal during his arrest over the weekend, they said they found a knife in his pocket.

"When you saw the little baby she was unharmed and got her back to her mom, how did that make you feel," News 2's Andy Cordan asked.

"It was good," replied Dunning. "You know, she cried for a little bit, but once she got in the back of the car, she was smiling, crying and the mom was consoling her. It was good, it was good."

Beal is being held in the Cheatham County Jail on a $25,000 bond. Authorities said he was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, adding that he could face more charges in other jurisdictions.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/missing-child-reunited-with-mother-following-fathers-arrest-in-cheatham-county-supermarket/