2 more arrested in $2.8M Forsyth jewelry store burglary

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By David Ibata

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Forsyth County police said Wednesday they have arrested two more suspects in connection with a $2.8 million burglary of a jewelry store in September.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office David L. Parker, 31, of Atlanta is being held in the Forsyth County Detention Center on charges of burglary and theft by taking.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office Demetrice O. 'Mete' Jenkins, 36, of Atlanta is being held in the Forsyth County Detention Center on charges of burglary and theft by taking

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The latest arrests bring to eight the number of people charged with burglary and theft by taking for the heist at Milano Fine Jewelry on Buford Highway near Cumming, a Forsyth's sheriff's spokeswoman told the AJC.

Members of the Warrant and Fugitive Unit of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office went to a club on Moreland Avenue in Atlanta last Thursday evening and arrested Demetrice O. “Mete” Jenkins, spokeswoman Karleen Chalker said.

Friday morning, sheriff’s deputies arrested David L. Parker at his probation officer’s office in Covington, Chalker said.

“We did recover some loose diamonds and gold on their persons,” the spokeswoman said. She did not disclose the quantity and dollar value of the recovered items.

Jenkins, 36, and Parker, 31, both of Atlanta, were being held without bond Wednesday in the Forsyth County Detention Center.

Sometime the weekend of Sept. 24-25, burglars cut a hole in the wall of the jewelry store and then ransacked the store, breaking glass cases, security cameras and the safe while stealing cash and jewelry, police said.

Construction workers discovered the gaping hole in an adjacent store the following Monday morning and called police. Investigators said the break-in was different from others because of the time spent inside the store.

"They knew what they were doing and what they were looking for," Forsyth sheriff’s Capt. Tim House told the AJC at the time.

Five suspects were arrested within a week of the incident: Kenardis Holloway, 32, Michael T. Holloway, 35, Connie Holloway, 52, and Amanda Hogan, 27, all of Smyrna; and Carl Henry Bowser, III, 26, of Atlanta.

A sixth suspect, Christopher Funderburk, 32, was arrested Oct. 12 at his home in Fairburn, police said.

Asked Wednesday if any additional arrests were possible, Chalker would only say, “We’re still actively investigating.”