A Ripley, Tenn. man and woman were arrested Nov. 19 on felony theft warrants from Fulton District Court, following investigations of stolen electronics from area Wal-Mart stores.
On Nov. 17, Fulton Wal-Mart reported the theft of two computers and a printer from the electronics department, with a cumulative value of nearly $2000. Suspects were unidentified at the time of the initial complaint.
Through a cooperative investigation with Fulton Police Department and Wal- Mart employees, the suspects were identified and arrest warrants issued Nov. 18.
On Nov. 19, the Fulton Police Department requested assistance from the Ripley, Tenn. Police Department in Lauderdale County, Tenn. Ripley PD detectives made contact with the suspects and arrested Tyrone Antonio Smith, 31, and Trina Monique Pearson (Smith), 27.
Ripley PD located one of the computers and the printer from the suspects’ residence.
The investigation determined the method of the Fulton Wal-Mart theft matches thefts from various Wal-Mart stores including Camden, Tenn., Jackson, Tenn. and possible attempts of the same method on Nov. 17 at the Martin, Tenn. and Union City, Tenn. Wal-Marts.
With assistance from several employees from the stores, video surveillance was obtained, which led to the identification of the offenders. One of the suspects confessed to the crime, while the other suspect maintains innocence.
Fulton Police Chief Terry Powell said, “This was darn good police work to find these suspects and incarcerate them for the crimes they committed. I am proud of the professionalism of the Fulton Police Department and the teamwork that was put forth by the employees to work and give all to the town’s needs. Great job.”
He continued, “Police Department would like to express gratitude to several Wal-Mart employees and also Det. Tony Jordan of the Ripley Police Department.”
The case was worked by Det. Sgt. Steven Williams and Police Officer First Class Dennis McDaniel of the Fulton Police Department.
Trina Smith was charged with Fugitive from Justice for the felony theft warrant from Fulton District Court; and Tyrone Smith was charged with Fugitive from Justice for the felony theft warrant from Fulton District Court, as well as Simple Possession of Marijuana.
The seized items are being held at Fulton Police Department as evidence, pending trial.
The two suspects were to have formal arraignments and extradition hearings in Lauderdale County General Sessions Court Nov. 20. The results of the hearings were not available as of press time.
