Suspect's Phone Tips Police to Burglary

[Martrae]

Apr 5, 4:09 PM (ET)

ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Hawkins County authorities were waiting for two would-be burglars after a cell phone in a suspect's pocket accidentally dialed 911 and dispatchers overheard them plotting the crime.

Authorities arrested Jason Anthony Arnold, 29, and James Keith Benton, 38, both of Church Hill, and charged them with burglary and theft over $500. Officers said they tried to steal a refrigerator from a mobile home dealership.

The Hawkins County Sheriff's Department was tipped off early Friday morning when dispatchers overheard a 40-minute conversation from a cell phone about plans to rob the dealership.

"It's the kind with the numbers exposed," detective Eve Jackson said. "Apparently with this type of phone if you hold down the number nine it automatically dials 911. So Mr. Arnold's phone was in his front jeans pocket, and somehow the number nine got pressed, and central dispatch heard everything they said."

Deputies thought the 911 call could have been a prank because it was April Fool's Day, but the scene unfolded exactly the way the conversation had described.

The suspects went into one of the mobile homes, carried out a refrigerator and were surprised when police came out from hiding and confronted them.

Authorities were hoping to identify other accomplices by listening to the 911 call again.



Bwahahahahaha....only in America

[Project DARC]

why would you steal a refrigerator?

[Gypsiyee]

maybe their lunchmeat is going bad

[Tikker]

Hey, a fridge is work $1k+ and if you're driving down the road with one in the back of your truck, everyone assumes you're just moving, so no suspicion!