Memphis authorities have recently charged a man with theft of property allegedly worth between $10,000 and $60,000 after he was found in possession of a stolen vehicle, authorities said. WREG News Channel 3 reports that the suspect, Marshawn Roberts, was discovered hiding in a dryer during a police search. The incident unfolded after detectives with the Memphis Police Fugitive Unit received a tip regarding Roberts' location on Friday at 9:30 a.m., when they sought to apprehend him on multiple outstanding felony warrants at a residence in the 2400 block of Rammesses Street.
Upon being granted access into the property, officials found Roberts concealed inside a dryer machine. Roberts, who already had a history of felony warrants, is now facing the additional legal challenge after the peculiar circumstances of his capture. Inside the dryer, detectives found Roberts' cell phone and a key fob, which, when activated, set off the alarm of a silver 2020 Honda Accord parked in front of the society, as per Action News 5. The Honda had been reported stolen the previous day from the Kroger on Kirby Road, further complicating Roberts' situation.
The stolen Honda Accord, valued at $23,153, went missing while the vehicle's owner was pumping gas, according to police records. WREG disclosed that the auto-theft was reported on Thursday at 3:40 p.m., just a day before Roberts was tracked down and detained by law enforcement officers.
A man has been charged with theft of property $10,000-$60,000 after police learned he was in possession of a stolen Honda after finding him hiding in a dryer.https://t.co/3CWPuE8PEB
— WREG News Channel 3 (@3onyourside) July 20, 2024
Following his apprehension, Roberts was taken into police custody and is being held on $10,000 bond. His attempt to avoid the grasp of justice by sequestering himself in home appliance now adds a vivid chapter to his criminal history and serves as a tangible link between him and the stolen vehicle. The charges stem from a broader campaign to address auto theft, which remains a persistent scourge in communities across Memphis.
