Cellphone Tracker Led Police To Boss Hogg Robbers

Thursday, February 09, 2012

Police said a cellphone tracker led them straight to the robbers who held up 17 people at Boss Hogg's Bar on 23rd Street on Jan. 29.

Det. Dale Taylor said the robbers took numerous cellphones including one whose owner had the "Find My Phone" ap for her iPhone.

He said tracking the phone led him to 6205 Walden Ave., where he checked out a car and saw the iPhone in plane view. He said he called the number and the phone rang.

In the car were Milton Cooper and two juveniles, ages 16 and 14, who are charged in the case.

Tristan Cooper, son of Milton, was inside the house.

Charges of aggravated robbery against Tristan Cooper were bound to the Grand Jury by General Sessions Court Judge Christie Sell following a hearing.

Det. Taylor said all those in the car and the house - six people - were taken to the police station to be interviewed.

Another detective on the case, William Puckett, said he conducted a search at the home of Tristan Cooper's girlfriend, Leah Menifee. He said he found a cash register that was apparently the one taken from the bar along with ski masks and other items related to the frightening holdup.

A number of cellphones taken from bar patrons were also at the girlfriend's house.

The detective said Tristan Cooper had one of the stolen phones in his pocket when he was arrested.

Wanda Overton, manager, said she was in the back when gunmen wearing black jackets burst inside. She said one had a long gun and the other two handguns.

She said she was pushed back into the rear of the bar, then was ordered to the floor.

Items taken other than the cash register included her checkbook and a pig used to collect tips on the counter.

Patron Heather Lane said she was sitting in the bar when the robbers arrived. She said a group sitting at a table "thought it was a joke. They started to laugh." She said they stopped laughing when the man with the assault rifle fired it into the ceiling. She said another of the gunmen put his weapon to the head of a man on the floor.

Ms. Lane said her purse was not taken because it was hidden on a ledge. But they got her phone.

Detectives have not found the pig yet.

 


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