Beech Tree News Network

UPDATE: According to Butler County Sheriff Scottie Ward the jewelry and safe have been recovered.  An additional search of Bobby Brown's vehicle and camper resulted in the recovery of all the jewelry.  Brown informed officers he had thrown the safe into the creek off Carson Bridge Road.  The safe was also located.

Posted 9/8/14: A Butler County man has been arrested following an investigation by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Sheriff’s Office Bobby Brown, 44, was arrested on September 5th, and is charged with receiving stolen property-over $10,000. The charges stem from a complaint filed on September 2nd by Chen Xiu Zhu of 17 Juliana Drive, Morgantown. Chen, the owner of China 1 Buffet, contacted the Sheriff’s Office after returning home to find a safe missing. Chen told the Sheriff’s Department that the safe contained approximately $30,000 in cash, and jewelry worth around $25,000. According to the victim the cash was arranged in bundles of $1,000, by denomination, and was wrapped in rubberbands.

A tip led investigating officer Justin Deweese to the home of Bobby Brown on King Noah Road in Morgantown. Brown consented to a search of his vehicle, residence, and building on Hwy 231. After questioning Brown, Deputy Deweese found a bag of money in the suspect’s truck. The bag contained $26,744 arranged and rubberbanded by denomination. Brown told Deweese that he didn’t know how the money got in his truck. Upon further questioning he denied having any knowledge concerning the whereabouts of the safe, or the missing jewelry.

Brown is lodged in the Butler County Jail and the investigation is ongoing.