Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 19, 1994 TAG: 9404190165
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
As a security officer at the Home Shopping Network Distribution Center in Salem, Brown had an array of sports collectibles at his fingertips. Between May and October of 1993, police say, he chose a few items to walk out with when he left work.
Brown is accused of taking thousands of baseball and basketball cards. Among his collection is a baseball jersey autographed by Willie Mays and a couple of baseballs signed by legends Sandy Koufax and Mickey Mantle.
Police said that Brown didn't have a penchant for any one team. It appeared that he liked them all, old and new. He even had one of the balls thrown out at the Florida Marlins' opening game. Police still haven't cataloged all the items, which are valued at several thousand dollars.
For two years, police were aware of an ongoing theft problem at the distribution center, a subsidiary of the Home Shopping Network. But it wasn't until 5 p.m. Thursday that police got a lead in the case, said Detective T.N. Guthrie.
A caller, whom police would not name, said he or she had found some of the missing merchandise in Brown's apartment and took it to security headquarters in Roanoke.
By 9 p.m. that day, Brown, 34, had turned himself in at the Salem police station. He was charged with one count of grand larceny.
Guthrie said Brown has cooperated with the investigation, even consenting to a search of his apartment. There, police found the only non-sports caches - three women's rings.
There was no indication that Brown was going to sell any of the items, Guthrie said.
Brown was released Sunday night from Salem City Jail, after he posted his $2,000 bail. He has declined to comment until he has spoken with his lawyer.
by CNB