Drug user compounds his troubles

by becoming a fugitive from justice

CrimeStoppers tip discloses his location

A caller reported to police a suspicious vehicle parked behind an All Seasons suites motel on Macon Cove in east Memphis in February almost two years ago. A car was dispatched to check and officers indeed found a black sports utility vehicle behind the building.

Inside was a man who was unresponsive to attempts to wake him. The SUV had a busted steering column and a stolen car tag. 

The officers finally were able to arouse the man enough to learn his name was Roderick King. He was transported to Regional One for treatment for an overdose of drugs. Police found inside the vehicle three grams of methamphetamine, nearly seven grams of fentanyl and a handgun that proved to be stolen. It is possible that the person reporting a suspicious vehicle saved his life.

After his release from the hospital, King was taken to jail. Later he was released on bond but he failed to appear in court on the designated day, so a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.

Twenty-two months later, November 29, 2025, a tip came to CrimeStoppers providing a location for fugitive King. He was found and taken to jail on charges of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, drug charges and the use of a stolen license plate. He already had an arrest record consisting of several firearm charges, burglary, theft, drugs and evading arrest.

This was one of 14 tips providing the whereabouts of wanted individuals in which citizens were awarded cash at the end of 2025. Other fugitives' warrant information and mugshots can be seen here.

Police 'Dog' puts big bite

on copper theft problem

Nine suspected copper thieves were arrested recently in a coordinated Memphis Police Dept. raid under the heading Operation Junkyard Dog. The arrests were made by the MPD's Pawn, Scrap and Seizure Unit, cutting into the market between thieves and scrap yards and recyclers.

As the value of copper and other metals has climbed in the past year, so have the number of thefts from businesses, homes and utilities, often causing service interruptions. Police recovered more than $10,000 in copper tubing. The nine individuals were charged with theft, burglary and various other charges.

CrimeStoppers of Memphis and Shelby County has long helped in the effort to stop the theft and illegal sale of copper and other valuable metals with our CopperStoppers program. Find out more here. 

Residential camera leads to 

tip on three in murder attempt

Police rushed to Island Place Drive in Island Place Village to check a reported robbery attempt and shooting. It was June 2, 2025.

They arrived to find a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He said three men in a red pickup truck shot him during a robbery and fled. The victim was left paralyzed and wheelchair bound.

Investigators found video footage of the crime on a resident's Ring camera. Photos were released to the public, and one day later a tip came to CrimeStoppers about a red truck abandoned behind a church in a wooded area. The truck was found and police determined it had been used in the robbery. A witness identified a man named Thomas Fletcher as the person who had hidden the truck.



Fletcher was arrested, confessed and indicated two others were involved. After further investigation, police charged Fletcher with accessory after the fact of a crime.

They charged Hunter Maness with theft of property, attempted carjacking, attempted first degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony crime. Sabrina Sullivan also was arrested as an accessory. 

Paid to the tipster who helped identify the alledged culprits: $900.