April 29, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
Smithville Police have arrested a couple for burglarizing a Love- Cantrell Funeral Home van while a chapel memorial service was in progress.
41 year old Ernest R. Mashburn Jr. of 247 Circle Drive and 28 year old Heather L. Standridge of 326 Jacobs Pillar Road were arrested on April 17 for Burglary (Motor Vehicle) and Theft of Property over $1,000.
Bond for Mashburn is $20,000 and $30,000 for Standridge. They will make a court appearance on May 2.
Police were called to Love-Cantrell Funeral Home in reference to a theft. Upon arrival the officer noticed that someone had scattered items around inside a van belonging to the funeral home. The owner informed the officer that witnesses spotted a man (Mashburn) suspiciously walking around the backside of the funeral home where the van was parked. Video surveillance from the funeral home showed a man (Mashburn) and a woman (Standridge) entering the van and taking items out of it. Police later located the couple walking in front of Omega Apparel and placed them in custody.
Police recovered items taken from the van including a Ruger 22 handgun, Oakley sunglasses, key fob, radio remote, touch screen radio, FM transmitter, cassette adapter, 2XL US shirt, headphones, phone chargers, cold weather face mask, and 2 packs of baseball cards. The total value of the stolen items was $2,280.