A woman wanted for jewelry theft tried hiding under a bed while her husband distracted Bulloch County Sheriff’s deputies by causing a disturbance when they tried to serve warrants Thursday.

Bulloch County Sheriff Noel Brown said investigators have been looking into several jewelry thefts since December, and “a common factor was that each victim had employed the same cleaning service.”

Employees of the service were questioned, and further investigation revealed Hazel Lajuan May, 50, Hwy. 24, had sold and pawned many of the stolen items, he said.

When deputies arrived to serve warrants, May’s husband Raymond Joseph May, 36, met them at the door and said she was not there. He said he had not seen her since Christmas, according to Bulloch County Sheriff’s incident reports.

Mr. May then tried to slam the door in the deputies’ faces, but the door rebounded and deputies saw him fleeing into the kitchen. When he ignored warnings to stop or be Tasered, a deputy deployed a Taser and they took May into custody. During the disturbance Mr. May was being loud and seemed to be trying to warn someone of their presence, deputies stated in reports.

Raymond Joseph May was found to have a knife in his pocket, as well as assorted jewelry, Brown said.

An elderly man was found sleeping in a back room, and a three-year-old girl was sleeping in another room, where Hazel Lajuan may was found trying to hide under the bed. She was found with two reportedly stolen rings, Brown said.

She is being held in the Bulloch County Jail on charges of four counts of felony theft by taking, one count of theft by conversion, one count of theft by taking, and obstruction, As of Friday evening she had no bond.

Raymond Joseph May was released on bond after being charged with obstruction, according to jail records.

Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.