By Chris Cannon
FRANKLIN, Tenn.- Two felons are behind bars for trying to buy merchandise with bogus credit cards at the Cool Springs Galleria in Franklin.
Jermon Trammell and Jai Barker were arrested by Franklin Police officers.
According to police the two men from Ohio raised suspicions while shopping at a jewelry store inside the mall.
"There
was an alert clerk inside who recognized something was wrong and she
contacted security who were able to follow these suspects on their
camera system and contact police," said Lt. Charlie Warner from the
Franklin Police Department.
Police said Trammell and Barker used phony credit cards to buy diamond jewelry at Cool Springs Galleria.
Two
Franklin officers confronted the man in the mall's food court.
According to the officers Trammell took off and ran outside the mall.
Officer Zach Wolfe chased after the suspect and apprehended near the Belk Department Store.
The officer said the two suspects did not cooperate with when arrested. But officers did find a way to determine how the two men arrived at the mall.
"So one of the other officers that responded with us, all they did was go out there and basically hit the panic button, or lock button and when they seen the lights light up then we knew that was the car they came into," Officer Wolfe said.
When
officers arrested the two and searched their rental car: they found a
total of 27 bogus credit cards, 2 counterfeit drivers' licenses, and
more than $70,000 worth of merchandise.
The bond for both men has been set at over $1 million.
"These guys had the resources to create identifications, to create credit cards. So people like that, with resources like that, are a flight risk," Lt. Warner.
Trammell and Barker are due in court on September 20, 2012.
email: ccannon@newschannel5.com
