PRESS RELEASE
On July 6th, 2011, at approximately 0619 Hrs., Officers from the Palestine Police Department responded to the 400 block of Fourth Street, in reference to a report of Burglary of a Vehicle.
Upon arrival, officers were advised that a family member of the victim came to the residence to visit, and found a suspect inside one of the vehicles at the residence. The victim observed a black male dressed in a white undershirt and dark shorts then leave the vehicle and travel away from the scene after being questioned. He was carrying believed stolen property with him at the time.
Cpl. Melvin Hill and Sgt. Rich Johnson, located a subject matching the description given by the witness, identified as Simas Lemond Farris, 33 years of age in the area. Property identified as being stolen from a vehicle in the 400 block was recovered. Farris was then placed under arrest. Farris was charged with Use of a Criminal Instrument, and Burglary of Vehicle W/ Previous Conviction.
The Palestine Police Department is currently investigating 94 Burglary of Vehicles that have occurred since June 1st, 2011.
“Detectives are in the process of sorting out these burglaries, and have made some arrests. There are some leads in these cases, but with the sheer quantity of cases, it is going to take some time to investigate. We continue to ask the public to refrain from leaving valuables in their vehicles.”
“I would always ask for people to keep an eye out for their own neighborhood. If they see someone walking by, pulling on car door handles, or peeping in car windows, then call the police. That is suspicious enough for us to question someone about. We all have to look out for one another. In this case, the victim’s brother knew that this person had no business in the cars, and called us. I appreciate him for getting involved”, said Operations Chief Jeff Powell.
Additional charges may be pending against Farris, based on evidence found at the scene.
Bonds were set at $50,000 for each charge, according to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.
