Alert Neighbor Foils Burglary

Action by a neighbor allowed Rutherford County Sheriff’s deputies to charge a suspect with burglary Friday, a detective said.

A neighbor who saw a man carrying items from Laura O’Kon’s home on Gateway Drive immediately called the sheriff’s office to report the suspicious incident, Cpl. Michael Moody said. The neighbor gave a description of the suspect and his vehicle.

As Moody arrived in the neighborhood, O’Kon called the sheriff’s office to report a burglary to her home. Sheriff’s deputies located the suspect’s truck at his home and tried to get him to open the door for 30 minutes. His father came home and allowed deputies to locate his son.

Detective Jim Tramel charged suspect Rodney A. Mills, 26, of Turner Avenue with aggravated burglary, felony theft and vandalism. He is scheduled to be in General Sessions Court Jan. 11.

Tramel credited the neighbor for calling the sheriff’s office immediately to helping solve the crime.

“The neighbor’s call was the biggest key,” Tramel said.

Detectives asked residents who see suspicious activity to call the sheriff’s office immediately at 898-7770 with a description of the suspect, vehicle and a license plate.