A Murfreesboro couple was arrested Thursday afternoon after a report of a robbery at the EZ-Mart convenience store turned out to be a suspected inside job, according to Murfreesboro Police Chief Randy Lamb.
Arrested were Johnna M. O’Neal, 31, who was a store employee, and her husband, Rodney R. O’Neal. Both are expected to be charged with felony theft of property while Mrs. O’Neal is also expected to be charged with filing a false police report, Lamb reported.
Mrs. O’Neal is accused of making up a robbery in which she alleged someone pulled her from her vehicle and pushed her down and took approximately $2,600 in Ez-Mart funds. She described a male subject who she said fled toward Kelley Street.
Lamb said a review of video footage from the store and the bank next door showed the only person leaving the area was Mr. O’Neal. The chief also noted Mrs. O’Neal was not acting as if she had just been robbed and showed no signs of the altercation she had described.
Lamb, who was nearby when the call came in, along with Officer Stephen Coleman and the Pike County Sheriff’s Department, quickly saturated the area and began an investigation. Lamb said Mrs. O’Neal’s story had many discrepancies.
A subsequent search of the couple’s nearby home recovered the money and both subjects admitted to staging the incident. Drug paraphernalia was also reportedly found in the home and misdemeanor charges could be pending.
As a result of the police presence and search in the area, two people were arrested by the PCSD on drug charges. Information about those arrests will be forthcoming.
This story will be updated when more information is available.
