Charges filed in jewelry store heist

By By Fredie Carmichael/staff writer
Jan. 12, 2002
A 23-year-old Meridian man remained in the Lauderdale County Jail on Friday, two days after being charged with grand larceny in the daring robbery of LaBiche Jewelers in downtown on Wednesday.
Christopher Oneil Denson, of 2006 29th Ave., was arrested by an off-duty Meridian police detective minutes after a suspect karate-chopped a glass display case inside the jewelry store and grabbed a tray of rings, officers said.
Detective Deano Harper, spokesman for the Meridian Police Department, said "we had an off-duty police officer who was in the area and caught the suspect, who had fled the store on foot."
Teresa LaBiche, owner of the jewelry store, was preparing to close the store shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday when the incident took place.
A suspect entered the shop and looked around for a while before putting his gloved fists together and slamming them through the glass case, LaBiche said. The suspect left the store with an undisclosed piece of jewelry before being captured shortly after by the off-duty detective.
Denson's bond was set at $5,000.