Several cases of stolen Nike shoes — together worth $50,000 — were being stored in a house in Frayser before police apprehended nine people, according to an affidavit from Shelby County court records.
An anonymous tip lead investigators to a house on Todds Creek Cove on Feb. 23 toward 10 a.m., according to the affidavit. A "concerned citizen" told police that several cases of stolen Nike shoes from the rail yard were inside this house and by noon an officer saw several men coming in and out of the house carrying large boxes once police were surveilling the house in plain clothes, according to the affidavit.
The men were loading the boxes into a black Dodge Durango that was parked in front of the house, according to the affidavit. The officer asked for backup and at around 1 p.m. more officers came and detained multiple people, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit said that these people include Frank Walls, Tracy Fleming, Akeel Jones, Rah'heem Tuggle, Darren Stewart, Keandre Mims, Troy Gaines, Tarshawn Gibson and Tray'Vion Smith.
About 35 cases of shoes were found in the Dodge Durango along with three individual shoe boxes were found inside a blue Dodge Grand Caravan, according to the affidavit.
An officer spoke with the homeowner who provided written consent to search her residence for stolen items, according to the affidavit. Police then found 30 cases of Nike shoes in a bedroom, according to the affidavit.
Railroad and Nike representatives arrived on the scene and confirmed the cases were stolen overnight from the CSX rail yard on 1493 North Holmes, according to the affidavit.
All individuals detained were transported to Austin Peay GIB for further investigation and Tracy Fleming waved his rights to provide a statement, according to the affidavit. He said he rode with his son to the residence to buy shoes, according to the affidavit. An officer said he saw Fleming loading stolen property from the house into the Dodge Durango, according to the affidavit.
As crime proves to be a continued challenge for the city of Memphis, how to reduce the pain that it has caused communities remains on the minds of civilians, politicians and changemakers in the area.
Click here for a collection of organized facts and data surrounding crime in the Mid-South as well as a list of organizations that could use your help in reducing crime in the city of Memphis.