...Suspect takes own photo with stolen phone
Then he's caught in a stolen car with the stolen phone.


Zoom Photos. Billy Rowell.Billy Rowell is shown in the reflection of a mirror holding a stolen AR15 gun. He took the photo with a stolen iPhone, also shown in the picture.
 
The Sun-Times
Posted Sep 03, 2010 @ 06:53 PM
Cleburne County, Ark. — A photo of 21-year-old Bee Branch man was found on a recovered stolen iPhone recently. Using a mirror, Billy Rowell reportedly took his own photo with the stolen phone while holding a stolen AR15 gun from the Greers Ferry Police Department.
A rash of break-ins in Greers Ferry and Diamond Bluff area of the county have been solved, and not necessarily because of the self-taken mug.
The burglaries were solved after a Conway Police Officer stopped a stolen car. “During the traffic stop the officer ran the serial number on the phone,” said Alan Roberson, detective for the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Department. “The phone showed to be stolen from one of the five homes reported as burglarized.
Rowell was in possession of the stolen phone at the time of the traffic stop and was arrested by Conway PD.
“A large number of electronics were stolen in the break-ins. The list includes TVs, laptops, GPS units, and iPhones. Two of the five homes were occupied at the time of the burglaries. People were home asleep when the burglars went in through unlocked doors and took property.”
Cleburne County Detective John Ed Hendricks interviewed Rowell at the Faulkner County Jail. “He received a confession and was able to recover some of the stolen property. John Ed covered three counties, tracking down the items. Most of the property was found in Conway County. Stolen property was found that had been taken from Conway County, Faulkner County, and Cleburne County.”
The AR15 and a shotgun were stolen from the trunk of a Greers Ferry patrol car. “The suspect(s) forced entry into the car at the officer’s residence,” said Hendricks. “Forced entry was also made to his wife’s car where other items were taken. The guns have been recovered.”
Evidence from the burglary scenes is being processed at the Arkansas State Crime Lab. Charges have not been filed, but there are additional suspects.
The Cleburne County Sheriff’s Department has previously asked residents to log serial numbers of belongings so they are easier to identify if they are stolen. “It was solely because of the owner of the iPhone logging the serial number that these burglary cases were solved,” said Detective Phil Burnham. “If there isn’t a serial number, scratch your own identifying numbers onto the property.”
In other burglary-related news: The recent burglaries of a shed at Lake and River Inn and burglary of the north fire station of the Heber Springs Fire Department have been solved. “Four guys stayed at the Lake and River Inn the night of August 18,” said Keith Douglass, detective with the Heber Springs Police Department. “One of the guys left the motel and came back with tools stolen from the Inn. That’s when they all got the idea to go through different buildings and steal property.”
The crew hit the fire department, getting everything they needed to satisfy their burglary curiosity. “They took a number of items including fire radios. I received information about someone trying to sell radios in White County that matched what we had taken.”
Douglass said one guy was tracked down last Wednesday night. “He admitted to the crimes. We have recovered 90-percent of the property taken from the fire department. Property was spread out into Faulkner and White Counties.”
No arrests have been made but Douglass said all four males are from White County and are in their early 20s.
Cleburne County Sheriff Marty Moss reported Tuesday a large number of burglaries were reported over the weekend. Items reported stolen include pain medication, a riding lawn mower, tools, beer, cash, and Dr. Pepper. “I am asking citizens to be on the look out for possible stolen property.
“One place that was hit was a local trucking company. Cases of antifreeze, oil, and windshield wash fluid were stolen. Chrome wheels, sanders, and paint guns for cars were also stolen.”
Video surveillance tapes are being reviewed after the Big Red Valero south of Heber Springs reported vandalism Sunday. “They found a power box on the outside of the building that had been turned off,” said Sheriff Marty Moss. “Someone also tried to burn a stack of newspapers and bent part of a ice freezer.”
If you have information on any of the unsolved burglaries and thefts, you are asked to call the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Department at 501-362-8143.
http://www.thesuntimes.com/newsnow/x128158730/Suspect-takes-own-photo-with-stolen-phone

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