X-ray shows diamond earrings swallowed by theft suspect during arrest, police say

A suspected thief made headlines last week after swallowing two pairs of diamond earrings during his arrest on a Florida Panhandle highway. The earrings, valued at nearly $770,000, were taken during a brazen robbery at an upscale shopping center in Orlando. The man, 32, from Texas, is facing two felony charges for forcibly stealing the jewelry.

According to the arrest report, the suspect was overheard in the squad car lamenting his decision, stating, "I should have thrown them out the window." At the Washington County jail, he inquired if he would be charged for what was in his stomach, highlighting the unusual nature of his predicament. An X-ray later confirmed the presence of the earrings in his digestive tract.

The incident occurred when the suspect falsely claimed he was shopping for a basketball player from the Orlando Magic. After being escorted to a VIP room, he snatched the jewelry and attempted to escape, injuring one sales associate in the process. Though the associate managed to knock a diamond ring, valued at $587,000, from the suspect's grasp, the thief successfully left with another pair of earrings.

Law enforcement was able to trace the suspect's vehicle through mall security footage, leading to a chase along the Florida Turnpike and Interstate 10. He was ultimately pulled over for driving without rear lights, approximately 340 miles from the crime scene. As a result, he was charged with first-degree felony grand theft and robbery.

Currently, the suspect remains in police custody in Orange County, Florida, with no attorney listed on record. Additionally, there has been no update on the status of the earrings, and it remains uncertain how law enforcement will proceed with recovering them.