Residents of a Henry County neighborhood helped themselves to items left in a home, believing that the resident had been evicted, police said.
Seven people, including a Henry County police sergeant, have been charged with burglary, Major Jason Bolton with the Henry County Police Department said.
"Several of the neighbors in the subdivision believed that the victim had been evicted, and that she had vacated the residence and abandoned the property left inside," Bolton said. "At some point over the last couple of weeks, a number of these neighbors entered the victim’s residence and took some of the property."
The victim told police she had taken about 80 percent of her belongings from the home when she moved and planned to return for the remaining items, Bolton said. When she returned to the home Saturday to prepare for a yard sale, she realized the home had been entered and her belongings, including a kitchen table and leather coat, were gone.
The victim called police.
"When word spread throughout the subdivision that the homeowner had not been evicted and that the police were involved, most of the items were returned to the victim," Bolton said.
Those arrested include: Brianne Ferguson, David Allen Ferguson, Bryan Langley, Francis Langley, Mindy Moss, Cassandra Ball and Aaron Roberts. David Ferguson, a police sergeant, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation, Bolton said.
All of the suspects have bonded out of jail. A court appearance has been scheduled for Sept. 7 at 8:30 a.m.
The Henry County Sheriff's Office initially included Frederick Douglas among those arrested, but said Thursday he was not involved.
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