A leader of the Black Lives Matter movement in Etowah County has been arrested on felony theft charges.
According to a news release from the Gadsden Police Department, officers executed search warrants on Thursday at multiple locations. As part of this investigation, 32 year old Jerome Reese Gunn was placed under arrest for the crime of Theft by Deception 1st Degree.
A statement from Black Lives Matter Etowah describes Gunn as a leader in that organization, and a leader in the area’s Black community even before that.
The statement says Gunn’s car wash on West Meighan Boulevard was one of the places searched. That car wash was the starting point for a recent march and a planned site Friday night for a kid-friendly activity night and charitable event.
A statement from Black Lives Matter Etowah Thursday said, “We will not let this stop or slow the work he has put in motion or give officials the satisfaction of slowing us down. We ask that all supporters of this movement use their words and refrain from violence. We have been a nonviolent group since our inception and will remain this way.”
The statement quoted Gunn’s wife, Jasmine Gunn, as saying there were questions about the judge’s signature on the warrant. She is described as the owner of the business and is quoted in the statement as saying she wasn’t allowed inside during the search.
Gunn was transported to the Etowah County Jail and has a $5,000.00 bond. The search warrants and arrest are part of an active and ongoing investigation by the Criminal Investigations Division of the Gadsden Police Department.