Jacksonville police search for suspect in robbery of convenience store

From staff reports

12-28-2007

Jacksonville police are investigating the early Wednesday morning robbery of a convenience store on Pelham Road, in which a man threatened an employee with a gun.

According to police reports, a young man entered the Kangaroo convenience store around 2:15 a.m. and indicated to the female employee that he had a gun in the pocket of his gray hooded sweatshirt. The woman handed over cash and the robber fled to the south on foot. No one was injured, according to the police report.

The report described the man as white, 20 to 22 years old, between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds. Police investigators said the man wore tennis shoes and light-colored cargo shorts. The sweatshirt had an unknown insignia on it.

Investigators said they had made no arrests in the case as of Thursday afternoon.

Anniston man reports attempted armed robbery

By Nick Cenegy
Star Staff Writer

12-28-2007

A 30-year-old Anniston man told police a group of men tried to rob him Wednesday afternoon.

The man reported that the attempted robbery occurred after he stopped his 1997 Cadillac at the intersection of 15th Street and Cooper Avenue and got out to use a pay phone.

He reported he was approached by at least three people, then realized he didn't have enough change for the call. Returning to his car, he found a man rummaging through it. When he got into a fight with him, the man pulled out a handgun, he told police.

As the two wrestled for possession of the weapon, another man came up from behind and started hitting him, he reported

At some point, a shot was fired from outside the vehicle, striking it, according to police.

Crime-scene investigators verified the bullet hole and recovered a bag at the scene containing what they suspect is cocaine. Investigators could not say conclusively whether the bag was involved in the incident.

No arrests had been made in the incident as of Thursday afternoon.

No serious injuries were reported.

Riley urges Alabamians not to drink and drive over New Year's

From wire reports

12-28-2007

MONTGOMERY — Gov. Bob Riley on Thursday cited continuing efforts to lower traffic fatalities as he joined state troopers in urging Alabamians not to drink and drive over the New Year's holiday.

"We have been working hard this year to minimize traffic deaths through our Take Back Our Highways program, and it is working," Riley said.

All available troopers will be on patrol during peak holiday travel times, emphasizing DUI enforcement during patrols and checkpoints. The 102-hour holiday travel period begins Friday at 6 p.m. and ends at midnight New Year's Day.

Fire claims mobile home; family escapes

Associated Press

12-28-2007

LACEY'S SPRING — A 14-year-old girl rescued her younger sister from a Christmas Eve blaze that destroyed a mobile home in Lacey's Spring.

When Cristell Rodriguez, a freshman at Brewer High School and a member of the Army JROTC, realized her 5-year-old sister, Michelle, wasn't outside, she ran into the burning home and rescued her.

Their parents, Erasmo and Sandra Rodriguez, had planned to cut up a pig and cook it inside for Christmas and went into a storage shed for a table.

Sandra Rodriguez, 32, had turned on the kitchen range and apparently left a plastic bottle of cooking oil too close. The heat ignited the bottle.

Lacey's Spring Assistant Fire Chief Johnny Abbett said he and his wife, Anita, were the first to arrive, shortly after 10 a.m., and that the home was fully involved at the Aladdin Trailer Park.

Bruce Berry, who has operated the park about 20 years, said a used 14-by-70-foot mobile home he previously bought arrived Wednesday morning. He offered it to the family for purchase on a term basis.

Erasmo Rodriguez, a house painter, said he and his wife, who did not have insurance, like the home because it is larger and has central heat and air conditioning. They want to locate it on the same lot, where they've lived for five years.

"We lost the pig in the fire, too, all our presents and cash mother had been saving up for me a present for my 15th birthday in March," Cristell said.

Teen arrested in Sylacauga house fire that killed 4-year-old girl

SYLACAUGA, Ala. (AP) -- A 14-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the death a Sylacauga girl in a house fire.

The juvenile, whose name was withheld because of his age, was taken into custody Saturday and charged with criminally negligent homicide and arson after statements were taken from other residents of the burning home, according to police Lt. Chris Carden.

The accused teen was a resident of the house, but wasn't related to the victim, The Daily Home reported Thursday.

The juvenile, who had an initial hearing Sunday, is being held at a state juvenile detention facility. His court appearance is scheduled for January.

The victim of the house fire, Johna McKenzie Brown, 4, was found unconscious on the floor of an upstairs bedroom after police received a call about a fire at the house shortly after 7:30 p.m. Friday. The child was taken to Children's Hospital in Birmingham, where she died a short time later of smoke inhalation.

No other injuries in the fire were reported.

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Information from: The Daily Home - Talladega, http://www.dailyhome.com

Yacht club's stolen statues found at University of Alabama frat

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Two metal sculptures of a goat and 10-foot spear that were stolen from the NorthRiver Yacht Club in mid-December were returned after they were found at the Sigma Pi fraternity house at the University of Alabama.

Tuscaloosa police spokesman Capt. Greg Kosloff said a university employee was doing a routine housing inspection at the Sigma Pi house at about 3 p.m. Wednesday when the statues that had been held by a statue of Neptune were found. The items were stolen between Dec. 14 and Dec. 19.

A phone message left with the fraternity's recruitment chair, Richard Grulich, wasn't immediately returned Thursday morning.

Kosloff said investigators with the city department's Criminal Investigations Division retrieved the art pieces and returned them to the owners that afternoon.

None of the students living at the fraternity house were there when police arrived.

Police said the spear, valued at more than $1,000, could have been moved by one person. However, the goat, valued at more than $16,000, weighs several hundred pounds and would have required three or four people to move.

Kosloff said police haven't been able to question fraternity members because students are out of school and possibly out of town for the holidays.

"There could be possible arrests depending on questioning of potential suspects or witnesses," Kosloff said. "The charges could be possible theft of property or receiving stolen property charges, which are both felonies."

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Information from: The Tuscaloosa News, http://www.tuscaloosanews.com

MSNBC documentary depicts life, death at Alabama's Holman Prison

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Grantt Culliver is Alabama's only prison warden with a show on cable TV.

Culliver runs Holman Prison, which has been featured this fall on an MSNBC series documenting life inside some of America's toughest maximum-security prisons.

"Lockup: Holman Extended Stay" is gripping for its stark view of life at Holman. Its cameras encountered blood spilled during a prisoner assault, overcrowding, white supremacists and homosexual inmate "marriages."

The show also has depicted monthslong stays in solitary confinement, prison weapons and an inmate moonshine called "julep." Producers sometimes resorted to subtitles because of the background noise and syrup-thick Southern drawls.

Prisoners haven't gotten to see the show since Holman doesn't have cable television and officials fear it could cause security problems. But Culliver said the staff is pleased with the program, which airs its last new episode Friday at 10 p.m. CST.

"It shows life inside. Some of the staff has said it gives their families an idea of what they do," he said.

Police seek man thwarted in alleged robbery attempt

By Nick Cenegy
Star Staff Writer

12-27-2007

Police are seeking a man who tried to rob two J&W Antiques employees last week before one shot at him with a handgun.

The two employees were locking up the business on the 2600 block of Noble Street around 7 p.m. Dec. 17 when a man holding a handgun walked up to them and demanded money, according to Anniston Police.

Investigators said one of the employees had a handgun of his own, pulled it out, and fired a shot at the would-be robber, who fled on foot.

The employee told police he thought he probably missed the thief because the man continued running.

The employees said they heard a gunshot shortly after the man rounded a nearby corner, said investigators.

No injuries were reported in the incident. Police had not made any arrests in connection with the incident as of Wednesday afternoon.

Anniston man jailed on kidnapping charges

By Nick Cenegy
Star Staff Writer

12-27-2007

A 54-year-old Anniston man remained in the Calhoun County Jail Wednesday on $500,000 bond after being charged with first-degree kidnapping and second-degree domestic violence.

Anniston police investigators said Jeffrey Ellis Easley, of Bancroft Avenue, allegedly hit his girlfriend in the face with his hands before pinning her down, refusing to let her leave his house.

According to police, Easley's girlfriend was treated at Regional Medical Center for arm pain.

Police arrested Easley on a warrant Dec. 21.

He is scheduled to appear in district court Feb. 22.

Birmingham Wachovia Robbery

WACHOVIA BANK ROBBERY - 2136 BESSEMER ROAD, BIRMINGHAM

The Wachovia Bank, 2136 Bessemer Road, Birmingham was robbed by a lone black male a short time ago.

Here is the preliminary information:

Subject is described as a 5’10-6’1, between 25-30 years old, braided hair, gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, dark sunglasses, facial hair on his chin. Left on foot across the street into a residential area. More details and photos to follow if available. No injuries.

EMA releases pictures from Randolph County plane crash

The Randolph County EMA has released these pictures from the fatal plane crash in Randolph County. -aj

Police: Beware of scams during holiday season

By Nick Cenegy
Star Staff Writer

12-26-2007

Like a bad Christmas sweater, holiday scammers have revived some old yarns with a new spin.

Scammers have been seeking access to homes in the area on the pretense of doing work, then stealing things, according to the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office.

In a Dec. 12 case, the Sheriff's Office reported, two people came to a resident's door, saying they wanted to demonstrate vacuum cleaners.

The two were able to persuade the homeowner to let them in the house. At some point during the demonstration, they took the resident's wallet. The suspects were described as a white female and a black male driving a silver or gray SUV, possibly a Yukon or a Tahoe.

In another variation of the scam, thieves claim to offer home or floor-cleaning services.

They may offer to demonstrate by cleaning one room for free. Once inside, however, they take their compensation in the form of stolen goods.

Full story

Troopers: At least 2 die in Christmas Day traffic accidents

UNDATED, Ala. (AP) -- Traffic accidents on Christmas Day claimed at least two lives on state roads. Alabama state troopers said two people died in separate wrecks in southwest Alabama.

A single-vehicle crash on Russell Road, south of Citronelle killed 40-year-old Gaines Plez Tryo Rivers. Corporal Joe Piggott, a trooper spokesman, said Rivers was driving a pickup truck that left the roadway and struck several trees. He said Rivers was ejected from the vehicle just after 4 p.m.

Another Christmas Day wreck on Interstate 65 near Atmore killed a 60-year-old Conecuh County woman. Troopers said a car driven by Cynthia McGill Till of Repton collided with another vehicle at about 2:35 p.m. The driver of the other vehicle, a Minnesota man, was not injured.

Authorities in Limestone County are working to identify a victim who was burned beyond recognition in a two-vehicle accident on Christmas Eve. Troopers said two people in a second vehicle were seriously injured.

The collision occurred at about 6:30 p.m. on U.S. 72, about 7 miles west of Athens.

Valley store clerk shot, suspect arrested

VALLEY, Ala. (AP) -- Authorities have detained a suspect in the Christmas Eve shooting of a store clerk in Valley. Police said 43-year-old Michael Boyd suffered a gunshot to the chest late Monday afternoon at a convenience store, located at 20th Avenue and 30th Street.

Police credit witnesses for helping them apprehend 50-year-old Jerry Owens - who was charged with attempted murder.

Boyd was listed in stable condition last night.

FBI AND CENTRE POLICE SEEK INFORMATION IN THE SOUTHERN BANK ROBBERY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: December 20, 2007

Contact: Paul E. Daymond, Media Representative

Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Carmen S. Adams announced that The Southern Bank, 390 West Main Street, Centre, Alabama was robbed this morning at approximately

10:20 a.m.

Two black males, armed with a hand gun and automatic weapon, entered the bank and forced the manager into the vault at gunpoint. Money was placed into a duffle bag and the subjects fled the bank in a gray Buick Park Avenue, with an undisclosed amount of money. A dye pack exploded and the duffle bag was thrown out the window. The Buick was recovered approximately one half mile away in a residential area. It is believed that the subjects switched vehicles, however no other information is available on a possible second vehicle.

The subjects are described as follows:

Subject 1: Black male, approximately 6’2”, average build, camouflage jacket, dark clothing, mask and a silver handgun.

Subject 2: Black male, approximately 5’8”, medium build, hooded jacket, dark clothing, mask and gloves. Subject 2 was armed with an automatic weapon, similar to a Tech 9.

Both subjects should be considered to be armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office at (256) 927-3365, the Centre Police Department at (256) 927-3361 or the Gadsden Resident Agency of the FBI at (256) 547-0522.

Anniston Police are watching you: Patrols will be stepped up during holiday season

By Nick Cenegy
Star Staff Writer

12-24-2007

Anniston Police are giving traffic offenders silver bracelets and a court date this holiday season.

During the period traditionally recognized as one of the most dangerous times to drive, the department will have a strong presence on city roads to rein in the holiday bustle, said Sgt. Allen George.

"There are not going to be any breaks for offenders, especially this time of year," he said. "We want everyone to make it to their destinations safely."

George said holiday travelers, shopping traffic and people with time off from work mean more cars on the road — and more potential problems.

"We're going to be more forceful about the way we enforce all manner of violations," he said.

Since November, uniform division patrols have been joined by police investigators in unmarked cars on daily robbery details.

George said more than 1,000 people were killed nationwide in crashes involving an intoxicated driver during December of last year.

"Plan ahead. If you know you're going to go somewhere to drink, make sure to designate a driver, or make plans to stay there," he said.

If the first few weeks of the holidays have been any indication, we're in for a rough season. George said he already has noticed an increase in traffic accidents with injuries.

He said drivers should remember the following:

• Plan plenty of time to get to where you're going.

• Report drunk drivers on the roadways to law enforcement.

• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to safely get where they're going.

He said the trouble of dealing with DUIs or traffic accidents is preventable with a little bit of prior planning, and it's certainly not worth the risk.

Police urge vigilance to prevent holiday theft

By Nick Cenegy
Star Staff Writer

12-23-2007

The holiday season always brings out the window shoppers. Some eye merchandise in shopping mall windows. Others are more interested in what they can see looking through the windows of the cars parked outside.

Authorities say shoppers must be vigilant to prevent holiday thefts.

Jamie Martin of Anniston, her sister, and her cousin decided to venture to Douglasville Mall in Georgia this year on their annual Black Friday shopping expedition.

The women stashed their Christmas loot from Toys 'R Us in the back of a Nissan Xterra parked in the Dillard's parking lot, Martin said.

"There were a couple of bags spilling over into the back seat, but practically everything was out of sight in the back," she said.

Leaving the gifts, they headed back into the mall for another round of shopping.

Three or four stores later, they returned to the vehicle and found a passenger-side vent window smashed, the back door unlocked.

The packages — containing nearly $1,000 worth of merchandise — were gone.

They called police, who took a report, fingerprinted the vehicle, and left.

"That's when mall security showed up," Martin said.

The women went to the security office to fill out another report.

Martin said she noticed plenty of security inside the Georgia mall to keep people from stealing, but hardly any outside the mall.