TMP Reports
Posted: Thursday, June 25, 2009 3:30 pm

A man accused of trying to sell a $6,3000 custom-made diamond engagement ring to the jeweler who created it was charged with theft Wednesday, Murfreesboro Police reported.

Suspect Keith Moore, 48, of 3122 Park Hill Drive was charged with stealing the ring from neighbor Susan Benz of Park Hill Drive, Officer Chris Norville reported.

Jeweler Greg Tidwell of Bell Jewelers on Northwest Broad Street called police when a man identified later as Moore tried to sell Tidwell a diamond ring, the officer reported. Tidwell recognized the ring as one he custom made.

When Tidwell asked for identification, the man left the store. Tidwell obtained his license plate number. Tidwell called Benz who reviewed store videotape and identified the man as Moore, her next-door neighbor.

Norville and Detective Doug Arrington were driving to serve the warrant on Moore when they saw him driving and arrested him. They charged him with theft of the ring, which he said he got in Nashville.

His hearing is set in General Sessions Court.

***

Murfreesboro Police were busy with a number of unusual calls Wednesday.

Officer Abby Hartup reported victim Omar Alvarez, a server at Limestone restaurant on South Rutherford Boulevard, was threatened by three customers Wednesday night.

One man accused Alvarez of coming over to his wife’s apartment. A second man showed him a business card with a badge on it and stated he was a law enforcement officer who would get Alvarez deported. He threatened to kick him, “cut off his legs and cut out his eyes,” Hartup reported.

The three white men left in a white Cadillac.

***

A burglar stole jewelry and electronics from Donald Richey of Joe B. Jackson Parkway Wednesday when he wasn’t home, Officer Omar Reedy reported.

Missing property included a silver diamond ring, a gold diamond ring, gold necklace with heart medallion, silver necklace with silver cross, two cell phones and chargers, Wii sport game system, Canon digital camera and Navigator. Loss was undetermined.

***

Officer Tracey Womack reported burglars removed about $3,350 worth of property from Tamara Simerly early Wednesday from her Eagle Street home.

Simerly believes the burglary might be retaliation because she gave information about a crime two months ago.

Items missing included a digital camera, camcorder, Dell computer, six-disc changer and speakers.

***

Officer Michael Fowler checked on a sleeping man inside a car about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday at a service station on River Rock Boulevard.

The man identified himself as Christopher Thompson. He waited on a friend. He appeared nervous, prompting Fowler to ask if Thompson had anything in the car Fowler needed to know.

Thompson told Fowler he possessed a handgun in the trunk. During a search of the car, Fowler and Officer Angela Alexander located a loaded .40-caliber handgun, seven small packets of what appeared to be crystal methamphetamine, eight used baggies, 10 unused drug needles and five more rounds of ammunition for the handgun.

Fowler charged Thompson with illegal possession of a firearm and felony possession of Schedule II drugs for resale. Thompson was booked into Rutherford County Adult Detention Center where a hearing was set July 1 in General Sessions Court.