LISA MARCHESONI, Senior Writer
Posted: Sunday, July 5, 2009 8:13 am

Anonymous callers to Crime Stoppers helped law enforcement officers solve crimes ranging from murders to vandalisms since the nonprofit group formed 25 years ago.

Murfreesboro Police Maj. Clyde Adkison, who has coordinated the program for 24 years, listed the Top 10 crimes (actually 11 because there’s been so many) Crime Stoppers helped solve. The agency that solved the case is also listed.

1. September 2007: The murder of General “Jack” Rains, 83, a former Tennessee state trooper, killed at his McFarlin Avenue home. One suspect was identified and convicted. Sheriff’s department.

2. March 2002: The murder of Cory Talley. Two suspects were charged with first-degree murder. Sheriff’s department.

3. June 2007: A homicide of a man struck by a car during a drug deal on East State Street. Murfreesboro Police.

4. October 1989: Victim Frankie King, whose body was found in Nashville. The information was forwarded to Metro Nashville Crime Stoppers. Metro Nashville Police.

5. April 1999: Bank robberies and aggravated kidnapping of SunTrust Banks on Greenland Drive and East Main Street. Murfreesboro Police, FBI.

6. October 2008: MTSU student Justin Davis was charged with making acts of terrorism and three counts of arson after threatening people would be killed if classes were not dismissed and setting three fires in residence halls. MTSU Police.

7. April 2007: A Laotian gang leader who was wanted on outstanding warrant, including felony possession of a Schedule I drug, possession of altered serial numbers, evading arrest and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. Murfreesboro Police arrested him after a pursuit.

8. September 1994: Burglary and arson of the Tennessee Probation Office on Lytle Street. Murfreesboro Police and Fire.

9. November 2003: Two suspects were arrested for operating a crystal methamphetamine laboratory. A semi-tractor trailer truck and trailer were confiscated with a value of more than $30,000. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration adopted the sheriff’s office case.

10. September 1990: An indoor marijuana growing lab was confiscated on Sulphur Springs Road. Murfreesboro Police.

11. September 2005: Three kilograms of cocaine was confiscated. Value of the illegal drugs and vehicles seized was more than $80,030. La Vergne Police.

Other cases solved included:

• A felony vandalism where four suspects destroyed the golf greens at Old Fort Park.

• A suspect stole a backhoe and crashed it into a building at MTSU in September 1987.

• A driver who left the scene of a crash with the victim suffering serious injury in May 1990.

• Six juveniles and two adults were charged with burglary and theft in Murfreesboro and the county. Officers recovered $3,500 worth of guns in June 1990.

• A 15-year-old boy possessed a handgun in the Indian Hills subdivision in June 1998.

• Burglars stole 13 poster photos or paintings from MTSU’s Murphy Center in June 2007. Some were recovered. Value was estimated at $2,600.

• A suspect was charged with two counts of violation of probation in Smyrna in June 2009.

Lisa Marchesoni may be reached at 869-0814 or at lmarchesoni@murfreesboropost.com.