May 12, 2008 08:00 pm
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By CINDY BISHOP
cindy.bishop@gaflnews.com
CORDELE — Local police arrested three men who were caught on video at one store stealing lottery tickets and at another store trying to cash them in.
Thirty-four year old James B. Coppedge and 27-year-old Eddreco Mantavious Butler, both of 407 E. 23rd Ave. in Cordele have been charged with burglary in connection with the incident. In addition, Jeffery Eric Calhoun, 26, whose address is listed only as Cordele is charged with theft by receiving stolen property.
Officer Marcus Sales responded to the initial call around 11:20 a.m. Saturday at Cordele Food Mart, 316-B E. 24th Ave.
On arrival he met with a store employee who stated that two subjects wearing masks had entered the business through a broken front glass window and took numerous amounts of scratch-off lottery tickets.
Sales reviewed the video and saw what he thought was a black male and white male, both wearing masks and gloves, enter the store twice and take the lottery tickets.
While conducting his investigation at that store, Sales received a call from a Georgia Lottery investigator who said that two subjects were at the EZ Stop, 501 E. 16th Ave., attempting to cash in some of the stolen tickets. Sgt. Carrie Lull responded to that location, but when she got there, both subjects were gone.
Sales also responded and spoke with the store’s cashier who said that a white male and a black male had cashed in several tickets and provided officers with video that showed the suspects.
Around 1:50 p.m. the same day, Cpl. Robert Montgomery, Lull and Lt. Robert Green responded to a residence in the 400 block of East 23rd Avenue after receiving information that the suspects involved in the burglary were there.
Officers approached a utility shed behind the residence and knocked on the door. A male voice responded, saying “come in.”
When the officers entered the building, they observed three men lying on the ground. The trio was taken into custody and later identified as suspects in the burglary.
While exiting the utility building, officers found a clear plastic bag containing scratched off lottery tickets lying next to the door. The bag and its contents were placed into evidence.
At the police department, Det. Jeremy Taylor conducted interviews and as a result was able to bring charges against all three of the suspects.
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