Deputies: “This Case Was For The Birds”

January 27, 2011

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has solved a case that they say was for the birds.

An Amazon Nape parrot (pictured) is back at home behind the bars of its cage, while two other men landed behind the bars of the Escambia County Jail.

Tuesday, investigators with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office contacted Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators about the burglary of Petland in Mary Ester. They believed the suspect in the burglary, which occurred on January 22, was in Escambia County and trying to sell the $1500 bird for $200.

Escambia Sheriff’s investigators set up a “sting operation” to arrange a meeting with the suspect. The suspect was contacted by phone and, thinking he was speaking with a prospective buyer, agreed to meet at Nine Mile Road and Music Lane.

At around 3:15 pm that afternoon, investigators met with the suspect, who arrived in a taxi, and bought the bird for $200.

Once the transaction was made investigators placed the suspect, identified as Michael Alan Lemonds, 43, of Pensacola, under arrest for dealing in stolen property.

During the course of this investigation it was discovered that the taxi driver, identified as Rodney Curtis Goldsmith, 37, of Pensacola, was an accomplice of Lemonds. Investigators also found cocaine in Goldsmith’s possession.

Goldsmith was arrested for dealing in stolen property, possession of cocaine and his vehicle was seized because it was used in the commission of a felony.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office intends to seek arrest warrants for burglary and grand theft on both Lemonds and Goldsmith.

Pictured: An Amazon Nape parrot that was recovered by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

8 Responses to “Deputies: “This Case Was For The Birds””

  1. AL on January 29th, 2011 11:25 am

    Glad they were caught – 3 birds with 1 stone :)

    (oh.. yummy? every chicken y ou buy at walmart is a cornish cross chicken ;) )

  2. gogo on January 28th, 2011 7:32 pm

    I have always wondered where the term JAILBIRD comes from…ironic huh

  3. Yummy on January 28th, 2011 5:03 pm

    I ate parrot while in living in Panama, not surprisingly, taste a lot like chicken, cornish hen to be exact.

  4. FED UP on January 28th, 2011 10:53 am

    Awww what a sweet looking bird wish I could buy him, he would love it
    at my place. Must have been very scary for the little guy.

    Good job officers

  5. :) on January 27th, 2011 8:36 pm

    He’s gorgeous!

  6. random dude on January 27th, 2011 8:11 pm

    stealing birds wow

  7. Annoynomus on January 27th, 2011 5:54 pm

    Wow! Awesome! Morgan or Ashley should be the Sheriff for Santa Rosa. Hall needs to go!

  8. JUDY MASEK on January 27th, 2011 5:44 pm

    WTG!! great police work :)

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News