MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Persistent old-fashioned police work by Murfreesboro Police Department officers, detectives, and crime data analysts led to the arrest of the man known to law enforcement as the ‘Rock Burglar.’

28-Year-old Jalen Ellison was taken into custody after an attempted break-in at Koji Express Japanese Grill at 1010 Memorial Blvd., on Friday morning, June 17, 2022.  He currently faces two counts of burglary to a business. Additional charges are possible.  

The preliminary investigation shows an officer patrolling the area noticed a broken glass on the ground next to the drive-thru around 5 a.m.  A rock had been thrown through one pane of a double-pane glass door. The burglar did not enter the restaurant. 

Another officer saw Ellison getting into a car Maple Street behind the business and conducted a probable cause traffic stop.  He was arrested and taken to police headquarters and interviewed.

Ellison may be responsible for at least 41 business break-ins since Nov. 23. in Murfreesboro.  One of the latest break-ins occurred at Andy Frozen Custard on Franklin Road on Thursday, June 16. at 4 a.m. Evidence related to that break-in was found in his car.

Ellison has been booked into the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center.

Source: MPD

Scroll down to see a past video of the alleged 'Rock Burglar' in Murfeesboro, as released by the MPD.

DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.

See some of this weeks tops news stories from WGNS Radio: 1.) BJ's Wholesale Club to OPEN first store in Tennessee in LaVergne 2.) 55th Annual Antique Show and Sale in July 3.) Arson Hearing for Suspect in Mobile Home Fire Scheduled for June 22nd 4.) Where did names of different communities in Murfreesboro come from? 5.) The Gr8t Chase and an Upcoming Jeep Show will help fund expenses of families that have children that are in the midst of a battle with cancer 6.) Audio Commentary – June 17th Marks the 50th Anniversary of the Watergate Scandal