An increase in cash awards

leads to more solved felonies

The call came as CrimeStoppers was closing out a record year. 

A tipster knew the location of a man wanted for a particularly bad case of aggravated assault and being a felon in possession of a handgun. The CrimeStoppers Awards Committee decided to pay $800 for the  locating tip for fugitive Macioaus Jones.

That case – one of 245 solved by tipsters during the year - brought to a close a record year for CrimeStoppers of Memphis and Shelby County.

In 2024, our organization paid out in cash $161,250. The amount doesn't include extra awards posted in some cases and sets a regular payout record. CrimeStoppers tips also led to the identities and arrests of 25 individuals in homicide cases, also a record. Those tips came during a year when homicides had decreased significantly.

In 2023, CrimeStoppers tips solved 16 homicides.

David Wayne Brown, executive director, said he believes the increase largely is due to the critical decision by CrimeStoppers to double its award in homicide cases just over a year ago. Tipsters now can receive up to $4,000 for helping identify a suspect in a murder.

“The word is out and that has led to more successful tips to our tips line  - 528-CASH - in murder cases,” he said.

In the calendar year a total of 192 felony cases were cleared and 284 suspects were identified and/or arrested for felony crimes.

Man slain at work is one of many

unsolved 2024 killings awaiting tips

One murder case is approaching a one-year anniversary and remains unsolved.

On January 29, 2024 construction worker Michael “Ross” Collier was shot and his pickup truck stolen as he worked on a house in a south Memphis neighborhood. He was a skilled “jack of all trades” according to his family.

Collier was an employee of Urban Property Management and was working at a rental house on Patton Road. Moments later he was shot and his 2004 white F-150 Ford truck was driven away. As many as two young men were involved.

Collier died shortly after police arrived on the scene. The truck was found a few days later. Although residents in the area heard the gunfire and likely saw the incident, no one has come forward so far to help identify the shooter. Collier's family is hoping that the CrimeStoppers $4,000 award will make someone decide to help investigators.

“Someone does know the person or persons responsible for this crime,” said David Wayne Brown, of CrimeStoppers . “It could be a witness or someone who learned later about the crime. We urge anyone who knows anything to call us at 528-CASH (2274) right away.”