"ELVIS LEFT THE BUILDING" BUT RETURNED SAFELY

"Elvis has left the building!" Thats right...Elvis, the decorative peanut which sits in front of Days Inn on Ross Clark Circle, was stolen. Officers received a phone call about 2:45 a.m. reporting two men stealing the five-foot Presley. Police recovered peanut and it can be seen later next week outside Days Inn. The suspects were identified as Ricardo Vazquez and Marcos Torres, both natives of Florida. Elvis wasnt the only peanut the suspects tried to steal. In fact, they tried to take "I.B. Nuts", which is the name of the peanut that sits in front of the Dothan Police Department. The two men admitted to damaging the police officer peanut,however, they denied damaging the cello peanut which sits downtown in front of the Opera House. Most people think the peanuts are cute, but theres a lot more than just looks that make up these nuts. Chief John White says they are approximatly $3,000. What started out as a joke turned into an expensive lesson. The men were charged with Theft of Property 1st Degree and placed in jail under a $5,000 bond. "Damage to property is serious..even if it is just a peanut. These are valuable peanuts," says White. JANA JACOBS-REPORTER WDHN 18