William K. Rigdon

    A major burglary ring has been broken up with the arrests this week of several individuals.

    Chief Deputy Ward Calhoun of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department said the group consisted mostly of teens and two juveniles. He said these people are suspected to have been working as a group to burglarize homes in the county over the past several weeks.

    Calhoun said those arrested include, Tyler M. Carney, 18, of 9194 Blizzard Road in Bailey, Tyler W. Jackson, 18, of 2689 Highway 19 South in Meridian, John J. Kinard, 19, of 383 Briarwood Road in Meridian, Cody D. Rigdon, 20, and William K. Rigdon, 18, both of 245 Harper Road in Meridian. Each of these suspects has been charged with three counts of burglary.

    Two of those taken into custody were juveniles who will be charged with one count of burglary to a residence. They will be processed through the Lauderdale County Juvenile Court system.

    Calhoun said one other person, David J. Wilson, 20, of Aycock Road in the Long Creek community, was taken into custody Thursday night at a fast food restaurant located in the College Park area after county authorities received a tip.

    Maj. Casey McElhenney, commander of the LCSD’s Criminal Investigation Division, said Thursday afternoon a large amount of cash was reported taken in one of the incidents and at least five guns and a crossbow were reportedly taken in another incident. McElhenney said so far two of the guns have been recovered and he expects the others to be found and returned to their owners.