MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Memphis police are investigating after a gun was stolen at the Mount Moriah Precinct.
An officer showed up for work Friday afternoon and found her handgun missing from her locker. She said the locked had two locks on it; she found one was missing and the other unlocked.
Investigators later found the gun at the home of 19-year-old Michael Bell, who was supposedly doing community service at the Mount Moriah Precinct as part of his probation.
Paul Ross is the owner of the Justice Network; Michael Bell was in his probation program.
Bell was placed with the Justice Network after a Shelby County judge gave him diversion after his arrest for possession of marijuana.
He was ordered to do community service at the Memphis Police Department's Mt. Moriah Precinct.
"The Memphis Police Department's precincts have been one of our community service worksites many, many years," said Ross. "What better place to do community service for a crime than the police department."
Apparently Bell felt the same way. According to police, the 19-year old made his way into the ladies locker room and stole a police officer's gun.
"I'm a little befuddled, stunned as to how he could have gotten to a weapon to begin with… the whole situation amazes me," Ross said, adding Bell wasn't even supposed to be at the precinct.
He said Bell was initially supposed to do community service at a different police precinct in July but he never showed. So the Justice Network ordered Bell to report to yet another precinct in September but again, he never showed.
At that point a warrant was issued for Bell's arrest.
Ross says the Justice Network has been providing probation services for Shelby County clients for years and they've never had serious issues like this.
While he's disturbed Bell would steal from police, what bothers Ross even more is "How does somebody whose name is not on the list just walk into a precinct and let into a secure area?"
Michael Bell was charged with Theft of Property, Violation of Probation and Possession of Marijuana. He is being held at the Shelby County Jail without bond.
