Juvenile arrested in home invasion

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Nov. 23, 2002
A juvenile, believed to be from Meridian, has been arrested in connection with a home invasion that happened Thursday on 26th Avenue near 20th Street.
Detective Deano Harper of the Meridian Police Department said the juvenile is male, but declined to identify him. The suspect listed more than one address. He was charged Friday with robbery, motor vehicle theft, burglary and kidnapping.
While kidnapping is most often used in reference to abducting someone, its legal definition also encompasses seizing or forcibly confining a victim.
The crime occurred Thursday at about 2 p.m. when two suspects described as black males entered the home of an elderly woman, robbed her and stole her 2002 Chevrolet Impala.
The woman was not hurt. The car and stolen property were recovered Friday morning after a resident called in a tip to Lauderdale County CrimeStoppers.
Maj. Ward Calhoun of the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department said the car was spotted on Lauderdale-Toomsuba Road.
Deputies turned the juvenile and other individuals in his company over the Meridian police. Harper said all but the juvenile were released after being interviewed.
Harper said a description of the stolen car sent to news media within two hours of the incident was helpful in the investigation.