by Leah Justice
leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

The Tryon Police Department recently arrested a South Carolina man for breaking into the IGA grocery store in Tryon on Sept. 30.

John Edgar Okdie, 57, of Lowndesville, S.C. was charged with breaking and entering, felony larceny and possession of burglary tools, according to police reports.

Tryon officers responded to the Tryon IGA in reference to a breaking and entering on the morning of Sept. 30. Officers observed that an individual had broken the lock on the front door and entered the building.

Items stolen included cigarettes and trash bags, according to the report.

Tryon Police Chief Jeff Arrowood said a suspect was quickly developed from the store’s surveillance camera.

Earlier on the morning of Sept. 30, Officer B. Hicks was patrolling South Trade Street and called in a registration plate of a vehicle that appeared suspicious around the same time of the break in.

After further investigation a suspect was developed with the investigation focusing on Okdie, states the report.

Several days after the Tryon breaking and entering, Okdie was suspected of breaking into a grocery store in Forest City, according to the Tryon Police Department. Okdie is currently being held in the Rutherford County Jail under a $35,000 bond. Okdie will be brought to Polk County to face charges following his case in Rutherford County, according to the Tryon Police Department.