MURFREESBORO – The arrest of a Murfreesboro man here early Monday morning may be connected to a recent rash of break-ins involving motor vehicles.

Murfreesboro Police Chief Darrell Rowe reported the arrest of Derrick M. Barnes, 39, of Benthall Bridge Road. Barnes was charged with possession of burglary tools as well as resist, delay and obstruct. He was placed in the Hertford County Jail under a $60,000 secured bond.
While Rowe was not able to immediately connect Barnes with the vehicular B&E’s, he feels the circumstances surrounding the arrest may lead to other charges.

“Not only did Mr. Barnes have burglary tools in his possession at the time of the arrest, but he was also wearing gloves and had on two camouflaged coats on a warm night,” Rowe stated. “Plus we are aware that Mr. Barnes has a prior history of crimes of this nature.”

Rowe said the tools found in Barnes’ possession are currently being matched with a string of 20-plus break-ins of vehicles in or near Murfreesboro over the past several months.

“If those tools are a match then I strongly believe there’ll be additional charges filed against Mr. Barnes,” Rowe stated.

Barnes was arrested after Rowe beefed up patrols of Murfreesboro streets. In fact, Rowe and MPD Captain Chris Sumner were part of a surveillance team on the streets Sunday night into early Monday morning.

Rowe said he was using night vision goggles to observe the darkened streets while Sumner was on patrol using a bicycle.

“Shortly before 1 a.m. Captain Sumner observed an individual walking along Spring Avenue near Azalea Gardens,” Rowe said. “He attempted to approach that individual, who then turned and ran.”

Sumner, along with MPD Officer Jonathan Jenkins, gave chase. Jenkins overtook the individual (later identified as Barnes). Subsequent to the arrest, Barnes was searched at which time the burgurly tools were discovered.

Assisting in the arrest were MPD Sgt. Joe Crisp, MPD Officers Chris Owens and Greg Parker and Chowan University Chief of Security Derek Burke.

“I’d like to praise the efforts of all those officers; hopefully we’ll be able to clear up these vehicle B&E’s with this arrest,” Rowe concluded.