MURFREESBORO – A sharp-eyed law enforcement officer helped solve a Murfreesboro crime that he wasn’t even investigating.

According to Murfreesboro Police Chief Darrell Rowe, MPD Sgt. Jamie Dilday was on patrol approximately 3:44 a.m. Friday when he spotted Donald Ray Manley, 25, of 115 Chief Street, Murfreesboro walking in the area of the Meherrin River bridge near highway 258.

&uot;Sgt. Dilday recognized Mr. Manley as an individual who might have an outstanding warrant in his name,&uot; Rowe said. &uot;He approached Mr. Manley with the intentions of serving the warrant.&uot;

After apprehending Manley, Dilday found several sets of car keys on his person.

Manley told Dilday that the keys belonged to a friend of his and that he planned to dispose of them later.

Manley was transported to the Hertford County jail charged with probation violation and placed on a $5,000 bond.

Later that day, while having a discussion with officer Bryan Futrell, Dilday discovered that Sam Ruffin of Ruffin Motors in Murfreesboro had reported a break-in to his facility.

In that report Ruffin claimed that a shotgun and several sets of car keys had been burglarized from his business.

Further investigation into the Ruffin Motors burglary revealed that the keys that Manley was in possession of did in fact come from the burglary of the car dealership.

Already in custody, Manley was charged with felony breaking and entering and felony larceny.

Manley had a $90,000 secured bond assigned to him for those charges.

Rowe said the large bond amount for the burglary is not surprising.

&uot;He (Manley) was already on probation for breaking and entering,&uot; Rowe said. &uot;Sometimes the judge gets tired of seeing people arrested for the same crimes repeatedly.&uot;

Rowe was pleased with the police work of his officers.

&uot;I want to praise the alert police work shown by Sgt. Dilday,&uot; Rowe said. &uot;The excellent communication between officers of different shifts was the key to our being able to solve the burglary in a timely manner.&uot;