Couple accused of burglarizing storage facilities

RUSSELLVILLE - A Winston County couple will be spending Christmas in opposite jail cells after they were arrested in connection with a series of mini storage facility burglaries.

Ralph Cloe Edwards Jr., 42, 1663 County Line Church Road, Haleyville, and his 37-year-old wife, Kimberly Edwards, same address, were arrested late Saturday, said Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett.

Hargett said the two are each charged with four counts of third-degree burglary and four counts of first-degree receiving stolen property. The charges are Class B and Class C felonies.

If convicted of the burglary charges, the couple faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine. If convicted on the receiving stolen property charges, they face up to 20 years in prison and a fine.

Hargett said the two are accused of breaking into storage facilities near the Lawrence Street and U.S. 43 intersection on numerous occasions beginning in August.

"We had gotten some information on possible suspects about a month ago, and we had been working to develop those leads so that we could obtain a search warrant," Hargett said. "But nothing had ever materialized."

On Saturday, Hargett said his office received information from Haleyville police investigator Tim Stein that resulted in a search warrant.

Hargett said it was determined that the suspects had storage facilities in Russellville, Haleyville and in Mississippi.

"Basically, they (are accused of) taking items from the various storage facilities and then putting them in their own storage spaces," Hargett said.

He said when officers searched the local storage areas rented to the suspects, they found several items that had been reported taken from Russellville.

"Also, a large number of items reported taken from Russellville were recovered at a storage facility rented to the Edwards in Haleyville," the chief said. "Plus, we found other items reported stolen at their home."

The chief said officers filled a 26-foot long truck with items that had been reported stolen.

"From guns, to a tanning bed, dishes, photographs, antique Christmas decorations, silverware, china, antique dolls and furniture were all recovered," Hargett said. "There were a lot of family heirlooms and collectible items that had been taken."

Investigators believe some items have been sold.

"We were told they were having yards sales where they were selling the stolen items," Hargett said.

Investigators said the suspects are believed to have been "picking the locks" on the burglarized storage facilities and then "locking them back."

"So when people came to check on their items, the lock was in place and everything seemed to be OK until they would open the door and nothing was inside," Hargett said.

The suspects were in the Russellville City Jail on Monday without bail.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@timesdaily.com.