On February 11, 2025, Walker County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to a residence in the Curry community of Walker County on a reported stolen vehicle. The property owner made a report of his vehicle being stolen and Stephen Russell Sims missing from the residence.

A suspicious vehicle unknown to the property owner was left at the scene and displayed a swapped tag. The vehicle left at the scene provided investigators information that led to another individual being involved. The second individual was identified as Cameron Taylor Cain.

Walker County Sheriff's Office Deputies and Investigators began an immediate search in the area and neighboring communities for Mr. Sims, Ms. Cain, and the stolen vehicle.

While searching potential locations, the Walker County Sheriff’s Office received a call that Ms. Cain was at a residence on Alabama HWY 195 close to the Farmstead and Manchester communities.

While deputies and investigators from the Sheriff’s Office were en route to that location, an additional call came in from another citizen nearby. That person called in to state that there was an unknown vehicle on his property. The description provided matched the description of the stolen vehicle from Curry that morning. The caller also stated that someone had burglarized two separate family owned properties and several items were taken. Walker County Sheriff's Office Deputies and Investigators responded to both locations.

While en route, the Walker County Sheriff’s Office was advised that Mr. Sims returned to the scene of the crime where the theft and burglaries had occurred.

Investigators observed through the windows of the stolen truck stolen items from the property. There were also items left behind by the suspects on the property.

The stolen vehicle was recovered and Mr. Sims was removed as a missing person.

Stephen Russell Sims was initially taken into custody and charged with unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and later charged with 3 counts of Theft of Property 1st, 1 count of Theft of Property 2nd and 3 counts of Burglary 3rd. Sims is currently being held in the Walker County Jail on a $156,000 Cash Bond.

Cameron Taylor Cain was later arrested and charged with 3 counts of Theft of Property 1st, 1 count of Theft of Property 2nd and 3 counts of Burglary 3rd. Cain is currently being held in the Walker County Jail on a $150,000 cash bond.

During the execution of the arrest warrant for Ms. Cain, Timothy Jarrod Colburn was located and arrested for FTAs on property and drug related crimes in a separate case.

Although there has been an arrest, this investigation remains ongoing.The Walker County Sheriff’s Office requests that anyone with additional information regarding this case, please contact Investigator Bryant Parkhurst at 205-302-6177

In 2024, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Peter Charles Brinley, age 38 of Townley. Recently, deputies and investigators attempted to locate Brinley without success. After some time, investigators received information that Brinley had left the state, and was in the Brevard County area of Florida.
 
Our investigator assigned to the US Marshal’s Gulf Coast Region Fugitive Task Force forwarded the information to marshals in Florida. Shortly after, Peter Charles Brinley was taken into custody on charges of rape in the first degree, sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old, and sodomy in the first degree and was brought back to Alabama.
 
We appreciate the assistance of the US Marshals to locate and affect this arrest. This is a prime example of the good things that can happen with inter-agency cooperation.