Suspect arrested in photography studio burglary
From the Office of DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden:
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — Between June 3rd and June 4th 2025, two separate burglaries were reported at a photography studio located on County Road 425 in the Aroney Community. Despite stringent efforts from the victims to secure the studio after the first burglary, evidence showed that a subject or subjects gained access to the studio the following night in a greedy effort to continue what one victim described as a “shopping spree.”
During the burglaries, a large number of formal gowns, hundreds of high-end clothing items, photography equipment, props, furniture, hair and makeup equipment, and household goods were stolen from three victims who operate out of the studio. The total value of items stolen was estimated to be in excess of $80,000.
The Dekalb County Criminal Investigation Unit then began an investigation which led investigators to an address on Leeth Gap Road in Boaz in the early morning hours of Monday, June 9th. At that address, after interviewing two subjects on scene, investigators recovered the majority of the stolen items inside a residence there.
Earniest Jerome Westmoreland (26 of Boaz) was arrested on scene and charged with Theft of Property 4th (x2), Burglary 3rd (x2) and Theft of Property 1st (x2).
This is an ongoing investigation and charges against additional co-defendants will be pending.
DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said of the incident: “This is proof to the dedicated efforts our Investigations Unit put into solving a case. A thief not only steals possessions, but they also steal your sense of security, and I am thankful the owner of this studio can find comfort in knowing this thief was caught.”
“God Bless!” Concluded Sheriff Welden
