SAVANNAH, GA (March 30, 2015): Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police credit the actions of a quick-thinking citizen and collaboration with Port Wentworth Police Department for the arrest of a man who broke-in to City of Savannah property intending to steal thousands of dollars-worth of equipment this morning.
Just after midnight, Orlando Spellman, 43, of Savannah was stopped by Port Wentworth Police and eventually charged with felony theft by taking and criminal trespass by SCMPD.
Spellman was driving a U-Haul Truck with blacked out lights when stopped by PWPD on north bound Interstate 95. While inventorying the trailer’s content with Spellman’s consent, PWPD discovered approximately 20 large boxes containing stainless steel traffic control box enclosures. Each control box enclosure is worth several thousand dollars. Moments later, Metro units arrived at the scene to take Spellman into custody.
A Savannah man called police after observing Spellman driving out of a closed City of Savannah storage lot, on the 1000 block of Louisville Road. While on the phone with police dispatchers, the citizen followed the suspect until he was stopped.
Metro Police Chief Joseph “Jack” Lumpkin, Sr. applauded the citizen’s responsiveness: “This is good citizenship in motion,” said Lumpkin. “Instead of turning his back to suspicious activity, this citizen took appropriate action by notifying police about what he saw. I hope citizens continue taking this type of accountability for our community.”
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