April 2022 Newsletter
Issue #4
CrimeStoppers Night at the Theatre event returns with popular Patsy Cline musical
Sixty-five years ago, an unknown singer from Virginia walked into a CBS studio in New York City and performed a song few had yet heard: Walkin’ After Midnight.

           The audience at the TV show “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts” wildly cheered. Soon the song was a top hit and Patsy was an overnight success after a decade trying to break into the music industry in Nashville.

           Walkin’ , Crazy and many more of her songs will be performed in the musical at Playhouse On The Square, A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline. And CrimeStoppers of Memphis and Shelby County has the entire house of seats on the main stage at 66 Cooper Street Friday, June 24, 2022. Reception begins at 6 p.m., and the show opens at 8.

           This is a fundraiser CrimeStoppers hasn’t had for two years because of Covid-19. Please support CrimeStoppers, Playhouse and police officers. Be a sponsor, or get your tickets early and make a donation to provide tickets to a police officer and guest HERE.
By the time the robbery is over attempt murder charges added to 2 ID’d by tipster

           It was a customarily busy Monday at the Sonic Restaurant store on South Perkins January 24, 2022 when two men walked in and brandished handguns.

           They demanded money — from the cash register and from all the employees in the store. When pockets and drawers were empty, the two men had about $700 in cash.

           What they didn’t know was that a bystander meanwhile had flagged down a police cruiser. As the police car pulled into the lot, the suspects began firing their weapons. Bullets struck the cruiser and the two robbers successfully fled on foot

           Two days later, however, a tip came to CrimeStoppers. The tipster said that a sophomore student at Cordova High School was one of the robbers. He also provided a second name.

           With the help of the tip, investigators dug into the case and on March 7 this year the Safe Streets Task Force arrested Antoine Blake, a juvenile and Deandre Neeley.

           Blake was charged with five counts of aggravated robbery. Neely was charged with three counts of aggravated robbery and three counts of attempted second degree murder. Both men have criminal histories.

           Awarded to the tipster: $1,000.
Cold cases site helps detectives

A new website provides information on numerous cold-case homicides.

A Cold Case is an unsolved felony crime awaiting the discovery of new evidence. It is a case that was suspended after the initial investigation for lack of leads but remains an open file.

It is a case that sometimes may require a new set of investigative eyes, and the aid of the public.

It is CrimeStoppers’ strong belief that in every crime someone knows something — it could be a seemingly small detail — that could be enough to lead to a solution — and justice for the victim and the victim’s family.

CrimeStoppers here offers a series of Cold Case files for public consideration. To provide a tip call or test CrimeStoppers: 528-CASH (2274).
Donations of any size are welcome. Checks made out to CrimeStoppers may be sent to our offices at 600 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 451, Memphis, 38105, or visit our website to make a secure donation now.
CrimeStoppers
by the numbers
Seventeen cases were presented to the CrimeStoppers Awards Committee for March. The cases represented 18 individuals charged with felony crimes and fugitives located thanks to tips.
           
Memphis Police were able to clear 12 cases, including two homicides.

A total of $6,200 was awarded to citizens who provided helpful tips.
           
For the first quarter of 2022, CrimeStoppers has awarded a total of $37,300 to 59 citizen tipsters. The tips resulted in 67 arrests and warrants, and cleared 48 felony cases, including 10 homicide cases.

Trust Pays
by the numbers

Trust Pays, the CrimeStoppers program in public schools, uncovered several weapons, including a loaded gun, and packages of drugs meant for sale in seven middle schools and high schools in March.
           
Since the 2021-22 school year began, the program has uncovered nine handguns, five knives and three other weapons. There have been 12 arrests for weapons and 10 for drugs. The Trust Pays incidents occurred in nine hilgh schools, seven middle schools and five elementary schools.
           
Trust Pays urges good students to quietly tell any trusted individual at school about illegal activities on campus. Since its inception nearly 200 guns have been confiscated thanks to these alert students.
To review all the tips data for the year, visit this page on our main website:
Websites continue 
to build awareness
CrimeStoppers and its many programs are explained - and the public is engaged - in various places on the internet

The newest site in our stable puts new light on cold cases. Take a look at -
 
Our main website explains the organization's purpose, and keeps count on major cases in which police need help from citizens - 
 
A companion site helps students keep their schools safer - trustpays.org
 
Senior citizens who are afraid or otherwise need help can find information they can use at another site - seniorbsafe.org
 
Spanish-speaking citizens can learn about CrimeStoppers on a fourth site -pagoconfidencial.org
 
Because the theft of copper and other metals has become a major problem in the metro area we launched CopperStoppers -

Now the public can view the list of current fugitives, including photos on our newest site - 

Follow us and give us a "like" on Facebook - facebook.com/crimestopmem/