3 Suspects in food pantry theft caught and jailed

Mar 31, 2015 at 08:51 pm by bryan


With two tables of bread, Midland Baptist Church started a food ministry six years ago that now feeds almost 2,000 people per week.

Their ministry was damaged Sunday when burglars broke into the Journey of Hope building at Midland-Fosterville Road, destroyed food and vandalized refrigerators and coolers. Damage was estimated at about $60,000. Three suspects were charged early Tuesday.

ADVERTISEMENT

heriff Robert Arnold told the congregation Sunday, "The Sheriff's Office failed you because I don't have the resources to provide adequate manpower." Only one deputy covered two large zones, including the one where the burglary occurred, Saturday night.

Effective immediately, Sheriff Arnold said each zone will be covered by a deputy, even if they have to work overtime.

"The citizens of Rutherford County expect and deserve to have protection of their homes and property 24 hours a day," Sheriff Arnold said.

He told the church members he hoped detectives would make an arrest soon.

Detective Steve Kohler charged suspects Christopher Holden, 19, and Christopher John Warner, both of West Lokey Street in Murfreesboro, 21, and Alexander Burton, 20, of Sassafras Drive with burglary and vandalism early Tuesday. All three suspects are being held in Rutherford County Adult Detention Center.

"They said they were bored," Detective Brinkley said of the suspects.

When sheriff's deputies arrived, they found severe vandalism, the detective said. Windows and light fixtures were smashed and liquid was poured on the floor.

"There were busted pickle jars and eggs were thrown everywhere," Detective Kohler said. "The glass window in the oven was smashed and they threw a frozen ham through the door, shattering it. It was pitiful."

Detective Sgt. Mark DiNardo and Detectives Steve Brown, Jamin Humphress and Richard Brinkley developed information about the suspects and interviewed them Monday night. They obtained evidence that might link the suspects to three other church burglaries in Bedford County.

Pastor Doug Mitchell said he has already forgiven the suspects.

Before the ministry started, Dean Cantrell picked up break donated by Kroger to distribute to people in Murfreesboro and Shelbyville. Before he died in 2009, Cantrell asked the church to pick up his bread and deliver it.

"We've been picking up his bread for six years now," Pastor Mitchell said.

Volunteers from Midland-Baptist with about 100 to 120 members, joined by people of other churches, spend about 60 hours a week collecting the food they distribute each Friday and Saturday to 550 families. They gave away 2.4 million pounds of food last year. If they have extra food, they share it with other food banks.

The volunteers were weeping when they saw the devastation Sunday. They had to throw away ruined food.

"God's already replaced it," Pastor Mitchell said Tuesday. "We received 30,000 pounds of food yesterday (Monday) from the Wal-Mart distribution center."

However, they are having problems keeping the food refrigerated after the loss of five commercial refrigerators.

"We are in desperate need of commercial refrigerators," Pastor Mitchell said.

People who wish to donate may send contributions to the Midland Baptist Church, in care of the Journey of Hope, 3109 Midland-Fosterville Road, Bell Buckle, TN., 37020. He's already received help.

"It's a beautiful ministry for us to run," Pastor Mitchell said.

Source:

Lisa Marchesoni - Public information officer
Rutherford County Sheriff's Office

Sections: News