TPD COPPS Squad Arrests Porch Bandit
April 24, 2020
On Thursday, April 23rd, officers with TPD’s Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving Squad were conducting an operation in the Levy Park Neighborhood in response to an increase in the theft of packages from front porches. The operation was done with the cooperation of residents in the neighborhood.
At approximately 11:00am, COPPS officers placed two packages they had created on a front porch in the 1300 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard and began surveillance. Within minutes of the packages being placed, the suspect, later identified as Patrick Lawrence, was seen walking north on MLK Boulevard. He stared at the packages as he walked past and stopped just beyond the property line. After looking around, he walked up the steps to the covered front porch and took them. He walked a short distance away and was putting the boxes into a white plastic shopping bag when officers confronted him.
He immediately took flight. After a short chase, officers caught up to him and he surrendered.
Lawrence was also wanted for Burglary at the time of the crime and was charged accordingly.
Arrested
Patrick Lawrence, 37
Charges
Burglary of Occupied Dwelling/State of Emergency
Resisting/Obstructing Arrest Without Violence
Burglary of Dwelling/Unarmed (warrant)
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