Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested two men at Shelby Farms recreational park yesterday afternoon after they broke into a Sheriff’s undercover vehicle. The vehicle had been placed there to catch vehicle burglars. The undercover operation was part of the Sheriff’s Office new “Park Smart” initiative announced last week by Shelby County Sheriff Mark H. Luttrell, Jr.

Mareco White	Terrell Barnes

Terrell Barnes, 24, of Memphis, and Mareco White, 26, also of Memphis, were taken into custody about 2:30. Sheriff’s Patrol and Gang Unit Deputies had the parking area under surveillance. Since January, more than 23 vehicles had been burglarized at the recreational park.

Deputies placed the “bait” vehicle in the parking lot at Patriot Lake near Farm Road. Deputies watched Barnes and White enter the park in a silver Honda. Barnes then got out of White’s vehicle and used a screwdriver to break into the driver’s side door of the “bait” vehicle.

After Barnes took a purse placed by officers in the backseat, Deputies closed in. Barnes jumped back into White’s vehicle. As the two attempted to escape, their vehicle rammed an undercover Deputies’ car that had blocked the exit. No one was hurt in the crash.

After searching White’s Honda, Gang Unit Deputies found eleven bags of marijuana in the vehicle console.

The Sheriff’s Office initiated the “Park Smart” program to reduce vehicle break-ins at Shelby Farms and other areas of Shelby County. The program involves aggressive enforcement tactics by Deputies and a community education program for neighborhood watch leaders which urges people to:

• Lock their vehicles
• Remove valuables
• Report suspicious behavior to Deputies

So far this year, Deputies have investigated more than 254 vehicle burglaries, about 30 more when compared to this same time last year. The break-ins have occurred in residential areas as well as parking lots at shopping centers, hotels, businesses and sporting events.

Mareco White has been charged with:

Aggravated Assault, Burglary of Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Manufacture/Deliver/Sell and Evading Arrest

Terrell Barnes has been charged with:

Aggravated Assault, Burglary of Motor Vehicle and Evading Arrest

Detectives in the Sheriff’s General Investigation Bureau are investigating whether White and Barnes have broken into other vehicles.