By Steve Rogers
The Packet
A Lowndes County company’s suspicion that one of its employees may have been responsible for the theft of a handgun lands the man in jail.
Shane Allen Bazzell, 38, whose address is listed as 3174 Highway 45 N, but is from New Hope, is charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of a weapon by a felon, and possession or sale of a stolen firearm.
He formerly played baseball for New Hope High School, and was drafted to MLB in the 16th round by the Oakland Athletics in 1998 and played for a variety of farm clubs. He was interim baseball coach at Starkville Academy before being arrested in Lowndes County for drug possession.
According to the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department, Bazzell’s employer, Steel Dynamics, called investigators about a stolen gun. Bazzell was not at the plant when deputies arrived but a warrant for his arrest was issued.
He was located in the parking lot of a business on Highway 45 North in Columbus and arrested. In addition to a weapon, investigators found meth and scales for weighing drugs in his truck.
He is free on $15,000 bond.
