Monday, November 17, 2003
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Police said that while arresting a 47-year-old Homewood S.E. man on a rape charge, they found thousands of dollars' worth of stolen merchandise.
The items, including expensive power tools, jewelry, televisions and Barbie dolls, were found in Dennis Jordan's home, Detectives Dewey Gray and Michael Merritt said.
"We even found a real police badge," Gray said, as he held up the shiny silver badge. The badge was from a police department in Ashtabula County, Gray said.
Locked doors
"We got there around noon Wednesday to serve the rape warrant, and when we went into the home, we noticed that several of the doors were locked," Gray said.
The two said they soon discovered that behind those doors were hundreds of stolen items.
"It took us about five hours to get everything out of the home and loaded up," Gray said.
The merchandise was arranged on the floor of the department's substation on Palmyra Road Thursday afternoon as detectives logged each item.
The detectives said informants told them Jordan provided illegal drugs to people in exchange for the goods.
Seeking the owners
Although police believe the items are stolen, they do not know the identity of the owners.
Theft victims should contact the police department.
"We would really like to get the stuff back with the rightful owner," said Police Chief John Mandopoulos.
Jordan is being held in the Trumbull County jail on a charge of rape. He is accused of raping a 33-year-old man Saturday, Gray said.
The detectives noted that Jordan may soon be facing additional charges.
sinkovich@vindy.com