Snowy conditions help police nab criminals in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The snow and cold weather may not stop people from committing crimes in Memphis, but the wintery conditions are helping police catch them.

We found at least three cases where the weather has worked to the Memphis Police Department’s advantage.

An escaped child rape suspect was apparently no match for the falling snow and frigid temperatures Sunday night. Investigators said 20-year-old Demarkus Davis was being transferred to the Shelby County Jail when he jumped out of a corrections officer’s car near 201 Poplar.

They said Davis, who was still wearing shackles, only lasted about 45 minutes in the snowstorm before flagging down a driver on Madison to turn himself in.

Armed suspects arrested after attempted auto theft Downtown

MPD said footprints in the snow also led officers straight to 22-year-old Rodricuz Partee and 20-year-old Chardarius Baskerville following a break-in at an Ulta store on North Germantown Parkway Sunday morning.

Police said the parking lot was covered with snow when the pair broke through a front window and left with $4,000 worth of beauty products.

Officers said they saw two sets of footprints in the snow pointing in the same direction that led them to the suspects who were still on the shopping center lot. They also recovered a suitcase containing the stolen items.

Police say some snowy footprints also helped them connect a man to a car that was stolen back in December.

Early Monday morning, officers saw two men trying to break into an air machine at this Valero gas station in Raleigh.

They said they were able to catch 45-year-old Randall Marra and found his snowy footprints inside a stolen Honda nearby.

All but one of the four men arrested are still behind bars. Davis is being held on a $76,000 bond.

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