Suspect sought after Pearl business buys gold, gets costume jewelry | Crime

PEARL, MS (WLBT) - A man is wanted by the Pearl Police Department after police say he used a bait-and-switch tactic to take a large sum of money from a Pearl business.

Butch Townsend with the Pearl Police Department says the suspect, Patrick L. Caldwell, walked into a business Wednesday with a bag full of scrap gold that was tested and determined to be valued at several thousand dollars.

During the price negotiating process Caldwell put the bag of gold in his pocket. When the price was agreed upon, Caldwell removed the bag from his pocket in exchange for a large sum of money.

A short time later, the purchaser discovered Caldwell had switched the bag for costume jewelry of little or no value.

Caldwell is a convicted felon and is believed to have attempted similar schemes in the Metro area. His previous convictions are for similar crimes in another state.

Caldwell is a black male, 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs 214 pounds and also goes by the name Anthony Bacon.

He left the scene in a maroon Kia with Florida license place AYSS60. His last known address is in Miami, Fla.

Anyone with information on Caldwell’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Pearl Police Department at 601-939-7000.

Copyright 2012 WLBT. All rights reserved.