Attempted Air Conditioner Theft lands Two in Jail

East Ridge Police Officials praised alert neighbors and fast police response times in foiling an attempted theft in progress.

On Thursday March 11th at approximately 1:35 p.m. East Ridge Police responded to 1004 Hurst St. in reference to a theft in progress. An alert neighbor called 911 advised two men, one wearing a brown jacket and bald, the other was wearing a blue shirt fled the scene on foot after their vehicle had become stuck in the yard. The first Officer arrived on scene in three minutes as other responding Officers established a perimeter to locate the fleeing suspects.

The suspects had removed an air conditioning unit from the outside of the home and loaded it into a Ford Explorer that had been pulled into the yard. As the suspects attempted to leave the scene the vehicle became stuck. The suspects then unloaded the air conditioner and again attempted to leave the scene in the vehicle but where unsuccessful. After this failed attempt the suspects abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot. Officers who had established a perimeter located the suspects near the intersection of Holiday Dr. and Floyd Dr. where they were taken into custody.

East Ridge Police Chief Eddie Phillips said, “This is exactly the kind of crime prevention effort we are promoting city wide. An active neighborhood watch program coupled with a fast police response to stop thefts and burglaries. I’m very proud of both the alert citizen and our police officers involved in this incident”.

The suspects who have been identified as Mitchell Frady, 30, of East Ridge and Kelly Blakemore,30, of Rossville, GA. Both suspects have been charged with Theft over $1000 and Vandalism and are scheduled to be in East Ridge Municipal Court on Tuesday March 16th at 5pm