According to Tupelo Police Department, a significant development has been made in the series of burglaries that plagued the east side of Tupelo in early June. On June 5, 2024, Dairy Kream, Cliff’s Car Care, and Jerry Willis Motors were all targeted, resulting in stolen vehicles from two of the businesses.
The investigation took a critical turn on June 14, 2024, when Tupelo Police responded to an alarm at Veterans Express on North Veterans Blvd. The business had been burglarized, and responding officers swiftly apprehended a male suspect matching the description provided. Following a brief pursuit on foot, the suspect was arrested, and a stolen firearm was recovered at the scene.
Subsequent evidence gathered by detectives linked the suspect to the earlier burglaries and vehicle thefts. Identified as James K. Webb Jr., aged 17 and a resident of Tupelo, he was certified as an adult by the Lee County Youth Court on July 1, 2024. Webb faces charges including two counts of Felony Motor Vehicle Theft, two counts of Burglary of a Commercial Building, and Possession of a Stolen Firearm.
Lee County Court Judge Bevill set Webb’s bond at $30,000 following his certification as an adult. Additional charges are pending against Webb in Tupelo and surrounding jurisdictions. The case is slated to be presented to the Lee County Grand Jury for further review.
This arrest marks a significant step forward in addressing the recent surge in burglaries across Tupelo, bringing a sense of relief to affected businesses and the community at large.
