The Region - News from May 23, 1986

A former Eastern Airlines baggage handler who allegedly lifted a diamond necklace from pop singer Patti LaBelle’s luggage was arrested on suspicion of grand theft after he attempted to sell the necklace to the jeweler who made it. The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said Kevin A. Freeman, 20, of Inglewood, was working as a baggage handler at Los Angeles International Airport when LaBelle boarded a flight for Philadelphia. LaBelle later discovered that a piece of luggage containing the $5,000 necklace, a gold chain and other jewelry was missing. A few days later, Freeman walked into a jewelry store in the Fairfax area and offered to sell the necklace, district attorney’s spokesman Al Albergate said. The shop owner recognized the necklace, called LaBelle and notified police. Albergate said about $11,000 of the $30,000 worth of jewelry believed stolen from LaBelle and another woman was recovered.