Gun theft suspect in jail on $135,000 bond
Published 2:55 pm Friday, January 20, 2017
PELHAM – An Ensley man was arrested on Sunday, Jan. 15, and charged with first-degree theft of property, first-degree criminal mischief and third-degree burglary in connection with the burglary of Alabama Guns and Outdoors in Pelham on Jan. 13.
Harris is being held in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $135,000.
According to court documents, Sidontae Tomar Harris, 19, who lists an address in the 2000 block of 25th Street in Ensley, and two other people allegedly committed an armed robbery of a vehicle in Jefferson County on Jan. 12, and then drove that vehicle and one more vehicle to Pelham where they proceeded to ram the stolen vehicle through the entrance of Alabama Guns and Outdoors.
Once inside the business, Harris and the two other people allegedly stole 16 handguns.
On Jan. 15, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms served a warrant at a residence in Birmingham where Harris was staying. While serving the warrant, authorities recovered three of the stolen guns inside the residence, and recovered two more guns inside of the stolen vehicle.
Eleven of the stolen handguns are still at large, according to court documents.
On Dec. 6, 2016, Harris was arrested and charged with violation of the State Firearms Act in Jefferson County. He was out of jail on bond at the time of his most recent arrest.
On Jan. 17, the Pelham Police Department, in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the National Shooting Sports Foundation offered a $5,000 reward for information that led to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for stealing the firearms.
ATF offered a reward of up to $2,500, which was matched by the NSSF for a total reward of up to $5,000.
It is unclear if the arrest was the result of information received from the public.