posted October 8, 2008
Charges against a couple who police say went on a local crime spree of burglary and identity theft were bound to the Grand Jury on Wednesday.
A number of residents who said they were victimized by Edward Heath and Roberta Ponder (aka Frady) testified.
General Sessions Court Judge Bob Moon bound over the charges that included aggravated burglary and fraudulent use of a credit card.
Marcella Westmoreland said after her credit cards were stolen, one was used for a profile on Match.com. Ms. Westmoreland said the woman in the profile was Roberta Ponder.
She said items taken from her also included a laptop computer, two handguns inherited from her father, some gold jewelry inherited from an uncle, her birth certificate and her Social Security card.
Molly Ladd said she came home and realized her rolltop desk was open and a bedroom drawer was open. She found that a screen had been removed from a kitchen window to gain access to her home.
Items taken from her included a checkbook, jewelry and a tool box and tools.
She said a number of checks were written on her account.
Another victim said his shop near his house was broken into and thousands of dollars worth of items were taken.
They included tools, a leaf blower and a roto tiller.
Another victim told of losing a laptop computer, camcorder, jewelry and videos.
County Det. Rodney Brown said there was a joint city-county investigation of the couple.
He said a vehicle registered to Ms. Ponder was stopped and was found to be full of stolen items.
Det. Brown said Ms. Ponder said Heath carried out a number of burglaries and she was involved in handling the items he took and in using the stolen credit cards and checks.
City Det. Tim Tomasek said he obtained videos showing Ms. Ponder using some of the stolen credit cards.
He said one shows Ms. Ponder, Heath and Heath's sister, Carolyn Heath, pulling up to Murphy Oil next to the Brainerd Wal-Mart and using a stolen credit card there.
He said warrants have also been taken against Carolyn Heath, but she has not yet been arrested.
Police said Heath and Ms. Ponder were also active in East Ridge.
It was East Ridge Police who apprehended Heath, 39, of Rossville.
Heath was wanted after he and Ms. Ponder stole an elderly woman’s purse at 3604 Phelps St. in East Ridge, police said.
Ms. Ponder was taken into custody by East Ridge Police. However, Heath absconded after a foot pursuit.
Heath was eventually arrested at an acquaintance's residence at 1713 Tombras Ave. in East Ridge and transported to the Hamilton County Jail.
Other charges against him include theft, evading arrest, criminal impersonation and failure to appear.
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