Investigators with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Prosecutors Office and Walnut Ridge Police are looking into suspicious activity that took place at the local Walmart located in Walnut Ridge over the weekend.
According to sources, a tip was received by the Deputy Prosecutors Office stating that a person or persons of middle-eastern descent was seen at the local Walmart in Walnut Ridge buying a large amount of Trac Phone type cell phones. The tip was then passed to local law enforcement who then contacted the local store and requested video from the store. According to sources the store only had 10 of these type phones and all 10 were purchased at one time by this person.
This activity came on the same weekend that a Walmart in Lebanon Missouri had 60 cells phones purchased, Laclede County Investigators were called in to investigate this and confirmed that the phones were purchased by persons of middle eastern descent with cash money, no charges were filed in the incident. A similar incident was also reported in Columbia Missouri last weekend as well.
Local law enforcement has contacted the Laclede County Sheriff’s Office (Lebanon Missouri) and requested video to compare to the local video taken. A similar incident took place in Michigan where arrest were made after suspects purchased a large number of cell phones.
Although there has been no direct link to any terror plots or groups in the recent string of purchases, law enforcement states people should be suspicious and report activity to local law enforcement. Reports after the recent San Bernardino incident stated neighbors saw suspicious activity but failed to report it to authorities stating racial profiling.
Investigators with Lawrence County continue to look into this matter, Federal Bureau Of Investigations has been notified and are assisting with the ongoing investigation. No arrest have been made at this time nor have any suspects names been released. It is still questionable if formal charges can be brought against anyone.
Large cell phone purchases of this type have not only been linked to radical groups using them as detonation devices but also have been used In phone scams, sales of illegal drugs and selling to phones for profit. These types of phone are virtually untraceable once purchased according to sources.
Missouri Law Enforcement believe that a group or groups of individuals have been traveling through the area making these large purchases but law enforcement still has not connected the purchases to any known terrorism. In statements made by the Laclede County Sheriff’s Office yesterday, racial profiling or racial bias was not a factor in their investigation, any individual making a large purchase of cell phones would send up a red flag.
The time of the purchase in Walnut Ridge has not been released by investigators yet but in the Missouri cases the purchases were made in the late night or early mornings when the stores were staffed less. The phones purchased in Lebanon Missouri were bought at 3:50 am.
If you have tips on suspicious activity you are urged to contact your local law enforcement.
For more information on the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office visit www.lawrencecountysheriffsoffice.com .
To report a tip contact tips@lawrencecountysheriffsoffice.com or call 870-886-2525.
For more information on the Walnut Ridge Police Department visit www.cityofwalnutridge.com .