Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Thursday, March 11, 2010 3:49 pm

Dallas Blackwell doesn't believe in "finder's keepers."

When Blackwell found more than $1,000 cash Wednesday, he immediately tried to locate the owner.

“I was tempted afterward,” admitted Dallas Blackwell, 22, of Rutherford Boulevard.

Blackwell, a pizza cook, found an envelope containing the cash about 7:45 p.m. in the Arby’s restaurant parking lot on Northwest Broad Street. He asked managers if anyone reported the loss of the money. When he couldn’t find the owner, he turned the cash into Murfreesboro Police.

Officer Patrick Rottero placed the found money in evidence until the owner claims it.

The person who owns the money may claim it by contacting records Lt. Alvin Baird at Murfreesboro Police Department at 302 S. Church St.

Blackwell said he turned in the cash “because it was the right thing to do. The person that money belonged to probably needed it more than I did.”

He’s already received one reward for his efforts.

“My friend’s taking me out to eat lunch,” Blackwell said.

Murfreesboro Police spokesman Kyle Evans commended Blackwell.

“The person who turned it in is an honest individual,” Evans said of Blackwell. “We hope the rightful owner comes forward and identifies the money.”