Bainbridge resident Willie James Murphy, 35, was arrested last Friday for selling stolen firearms and marijuana to the community. He has been charged with possessing with intent to sell marijuana, three counts of theft by receiving stolen property and two counts of possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
Investigators believe Murphy was part of a larger chain of stolen firearm sales that they have been following as far back as June.
BPS investigators searched Murphy’s home at 408 Charles Street behind Dairy Queen last Friday afternoon and found a total of 10 stolen firearms, a pound of marijuana and a wide assortment of ammunition.
“We go in there and search and find about a pound of weed,” BPS Major Robert Humphrey said. “We found some ammunition, two handguns, one 270 rifle that was stolen back in June 2013 and another rifle. He had a laptop we haven’t identified yet. He also had two more shotguns. We ended up getting about 10 guns.”
Humphrey said Murphy did not hesitate to inform BPS investigators who he bought the stolen firearms from or his intentions to sell them.

“Actually, once he got caught, he started talking about other guns that he sold,” Humphrey said. “So we were able to uncover at least one more we didn’t know anything about.”
A suspect for who initially stole the firearms, primarily from cars, and sold them to Murphy has been identified during the investigation.
“We solved quite a few cases with this one,” BPS Investigator Ryan Deen said.
On Friday, Nov. 29, BPS received a report of two rifles stolen out of a vehicle. BPS filed the report and began investigations.
Last Friday morning, BPS received a tip that someone was selling one of the same types of guns stolen, a left-handed 243 rifle. Humphrey and other BPS investigators spoke to the seller and identified the rifle as the one stolen through serial numbers and the scope attached.
The seller informed BPS investigators who bought the other stolen rifle.
“This rifle costs two grand,” Humphrey said. “Both these guys paid $300 apiece for these rifles. We went and talked to the guy who sold them $3000 worth of guns. So we bring him in, interview him. He said he bought them from a guy named Willie Murphy.”
Humphrey said there was a chain of four different Bainbridge residents who had touched the stolen rifles. Through the investigation and ultimate arrest of Murphy, Humphrey said they were able to solve three entering auto cases.
“He’ll have a hearing before he goes to trial,” Deen said about Murphy. “We’ll present all that to the next grand jury. But he won’t get out for the duration. He’ll be locked up.”