KPD e-Press Release: Pawn Shop Owner Arrested for Multiple Offenses

Approximately 11:00 AM

895 West Center Street

Kingsport, TN

Suspect Information

37 Years of Age

Kingsport, TN

2) Violation of 20 Day Holding Period for Precious Metal Sales

3) Failure to Report Precious Metal Sales (7 Counts)

4) Failure to Have a License to Operate as a Pawn Broker

General Narrative

On September 20, 2013 at approximately 11:00 AM, Detectives responded to Classic Pawn, located at 895 West Center Street in Kingsport, after they were notified that the owner, Tabitha S. Taylor, had sold a customer’s pawned jewelry prior to the end of a mandatory 20 day holding period.

While there, Detectives observed Taylor to be wearing a necklace that she admitted to purchasing from a customer at this location. Taylor could not provide either a pawn ticket or sales receipt for this item. This constituted the offense of converting property obtained by a pawn broker for personal use.

Investigators also located seven (7) pawn tickets for precious metals collected within the past month that had not been reported to the Kingsport Police Department as required by law.

Upon being asked to inspect her business license, Ms. Taylor was unable to produce one. Further investigation revealed that neither she nor Classic Pawn have been licensed through the City of Kingsport since 2005, nor through Sullivan County since 2010.

Tabitha Taylor was arrested and charged with:

1) Converting Property Obtained by a Pawn Broker for Personal Use

2) Violation of 20 Day Holding Period for Precious Metal Sales

3) Failure to Report Precious Metal Sales (7 Counts)

4) Failure to Have a License to Operate as a Pawn Broker

For additional information, please contact:

Ptl. Thomas M. Patton

K.P.D. Community Relations & Crime Prevention Unit

423-229-9433

ThomasMPatton@KingsportTN.gov

K.P.D. Community Relations & Crime Prevention Unit