Gang 'tags' showing up around Talladega

By Chris Norwood
The Daily Home

The Black Gangster Disciples, like other street gangs allied in the Folk Nation, uses the six-pointed Star of David and a three-pronged pitchfork as their primary symbols.

TALLADEGA — In the last few weeks, an odd type of graffiti has been showing up in various locations around Talladega, from warehouses on Tinney Street to a residence in the Silk Stocking District. In black spray paint, someone has drawn a Star of David with either the letter G or the number six in the middle, with two three-pronged pitchforks coming out of it. In some cases, the numbers 2-7-4 appear underneath the star.

This is actually a tag or symbol of the Black Gangster Disciples, a gang that originated in Chicago in the early 1970s. Most Black Gangster Disciples are part of the alliance known as the Folk Nation, and at the Tinney Street location and a building on Alabama 21 North, the word “FOLK” was also painted onto the side of a building.

The numbers 2-7-4 represent the initials BGD.

This is not the first time in recent memory that Black Gangster Disciple tags have turned up in Talladega. Last year, two juveniles were arrested for writing similar symbols in wet cement poured by the sidewalk crew of the Public Works Department. The suspects did not appear to be active gang members, however.

According to Talladega Police Chief Alan Watson, “We have had gang problems in the past, and I’m sure there is some now, although they are not particularly well organized or active in publicizing themselves. These kinds of things generally run in cycles, and will pop up from time to time.”

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Anniston man charged with murder

By Andy Johns
Staff Writer

04-04-2008

Brown

An Anniston man was in the Calhoun County Jail on Thursday, charged with two counts of murder in a Tuesday shooting.

According to investigators, Kori Brown, 25, had been held by Anniston police for questioning since Wednesday in connection with the shooting deaths of Quondrecja Devon Woods and Demetrious Childs, both 31, of Anniston.

He was not arrested until later Wednesday after warrants were issued. Bail is set at $400,000.

Police responded to a call at 12th Street and Boynton Avenue around 8 p.m. Tuesday to find Woods dead in an alley. Childs died from his wounds around midnight at Regional Medical Center, said Brown.

Investigators said the incident stemmed from previous disputes.

Police have not recovered the gun that fired the shots. Brown is scheduled to appear in court on May 16.

Explosion, fire injures 2

By Anne Anderson
Special to The Star

04-04-2008

Firefighters were on the scene Thursday on New Liberty Road in northern Calhoun County after an explosion and fire at a mobile home injured a man and a woman. Photo: Bill Wilson/The Anniston Star

A man and a woman were flown to Birmingham for treatment of burns following an explosion and fire Thursday at a mobile home on New Liberty Road in northern Calhoun County.

The victims, identified by neighbor Charlotte Ford as Jimmy Tatum and Crystal Wilhite, were transported by LifeSaver helicopter to UAB Hospital in Birmingham around noon Thursday following the explosion at 3174 New Liberty Road near Wellington, just inside the Calhoun-Etowah county line.

A spokesman at the hospital said both are in serious condition and are being treated in intensive care.

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State bar helps police, firefighters with wills

By Nick Cenegy
Staff Writer

04-04-2008

Anniston firefighter Johnnie Phelps has a living will drawn up by attorney Drew Senter. Photo: Trent Penny/The Anniston Star

Those who regularly step into harm's way for others were offered some peace of mind this week.

The Calhoun County and Alabama bar associations provided free basic wills, living wills, and powers of attorney for local firefighters and police officers Tuesday through Thursday at The Bridge inside Anniston First United Methodist Church in Anniston.

"It is the state bar's way of taking care of the people who take care of us," said Gary Stanko, Anniston-based attorney and local coordinator of the "Wills for Heroes" program.

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Deputies seek leads in Hobson City shooting that killed 1, injured another

By Nick Cenegy
Staff Writer

Updated 1:25 p.m.

Sheriff's deputies today are investigating a shooting in Hobson City during the early morning hours Tuesday that took the life of one man and wounded another.

Broderick Few, 32, of Hobson City and a 29-year-old man from Munford were sitting on the porch of a house at 316 Wilkerson Ave., around 1:30 a.m. when gunfire erupted from the woods across the street, said Calhoun County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Matthew Wade.

According to reports, the gunfire struck Few in the head and the 29-year-old in the leg. Both were transported to Regional Medical Center, where Few died in surgery, said Calhoun County Coroner Pat Brown.

The 29-year-old was treated and released, said Brown.

Wade said no arrests had been made this morning but investigators were still following up on leads.

Second man dies after Tuesday night shooting

From staff reports

Updated 8:52 a.m.

A second victim has died following a shooting Tuesday night near West 12th Street.

Calhoun County Coroner Pat Brown said Demitrius Child, 31, of Anniston, died around midnight after surgery at Regional Medical Center.

Child was injured in a shooting that also killed Quondrecja Devon Woods, 31, of Anniston.

Anniston police responded to a report of shots fired near 12th Street and Boynton Avenue around 8 p.m.

When they arrived, they found Woods lying dead in an alley a short distance from the intersection of Crawford Avenue and 12th Streets, Brown said.

According to the coroner, Child was taken to RMC for treatment of gunshot wounds he sustained during the incident.

Woods was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds at 8:20 p.m., said Brown.

The events that led up to the shooting were under investigation by Anniston police Tuesday night. Brown said authorities believe the two men were shot by someone else, and had not shot at each other.

Several residents of the area said they knew the two men, but were unaware of what may have caused the shooting.

Anniston shooting leaves 1 dead, 1 in hospital

By Nick Cenegy
Staff Writer

04-02-2008

A shooting near West 12th Street in Anniston on Tuesday night left one man dead and another in the hospital. Anniston police responded to a report of shots fired near 12th and Boynton around 8 p.m. When they arrived, they found Quondrecja Devon Woods, 31, of Anniston lying dead in an alley a short distance from the intersection of Crawford and 12th streets, said Calhoun County Coroner Pat Brown. According to the coroner, another man was taken to Regional Medical Center and was still in surgery at 10:30 p.m. for gunshot wounds he sustained during the incident. Woods was pronounced dead on scene from multiple gunshot wounds at 8:20 p.m., said Brown. The identity of the man being treated RMC was unknown, pending completion of police reports. The events that led up to the shooting were under investigation by Anniston police Tuesday night. Several residents of the area said they knew the two men, but were unaware of what may have caused the shooting.

Providing for the future: Coroner proposes bill to provide more resources for office

By Nick Cenegy
Staff Writer

04-02-2008

Assistant coroners Shane Adrian and Kay Cunningham check their equipment. Photo: Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star

The business of death can be expensive.

In Calhoun County, Coroner Pat Brown is working to offset rising costs by proposing a legislative bill that would provide for the future of the office.

"We don't generate money like other departments, so it's hard to justify the cost of any kind of supplies we need from day to day," said Brown.

The bill, slated for introduction during this year's session of the Legislature, would provide for up to two salaried assistant coroners, additional salary and an expense allowance for the coroner, and authorize the office to accept and use reimbursement money.

The bill would effectively put the coroner's office on par with other county employees in terms of cost of living raises, bonuses, merit and longevity raises, said Brown.

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High bond set for suspect charged in attacks on women

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- A Birmingham man is being held on a high bond after investigators charged him in a series of attacks on elderly women. Jefferson County sheriff's officials said 27-year-old Jermaine Carroll of West End was charged with nine felonies, including sexual abuse by force, attempted sodomy, robbery and burglary.

Sheriff's Sgt. Randy Christian, a spokesman, said all the victims were in their 70s and 80s. He said the attacks occurred on weekends between September 2007 and March 22nd.

A judge set a $785,000 bond for Carroll, who was arrested last week.

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Information From: The Birmingham News

State House passes sex offender bill

By Markeshia Ricks
Capitol Correspondent

04-02-2008

MONTGOMERY — Sex offenders who live near college campuses might want to start rethinking their living arrangements.

A bill that would prohibit them from living within 2,000 feet of two-and-four-year colleges and universities was overwhelmingly passed by the House Tuesday, and is on its way to the Senate.

While the bill does not prevent sex offenders from being a student at any college or university, it would keep them from living on or near campus, just as existing law already prohibits them from elementary and high school campuses.

Bill sponsor Rep. Jamie Ison, R-Mobile, said she wanted to expand the definition of what a school is under existing law because of the danger that sex offenders pose to young coeds.

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Dad pleads not guilty in deaths of 4 children tossed from bridge

Associated Press

Updated 10:13 a.m.

MOBILE — A man has pleaded not guilty to capital murder charges in the deaths of his four children who were tossed to their deaths from the Dauphin Island bridge on the Alabama coast.

Lam Luong, 37, of Irvington, entered the plea Tuesday at his arraignment on charges in the Jan. 7 murders of Ryan Phan, 3; Hannah Luong, 2; Lindsey Luong, 1; Danny Luong, 4 months. Their bodies were recovered.

Luong, a shrimp boat worker and native of Vietnam, relied on an interpreter Tuesday in court. A Mobile County trial date was not immediately set.

If convicted, Luong could be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole.

Jacksonville State looks to improve campus safety

By Dan Whisenhunt
Staff Writer

04-02-2008

Jacksonville State University campus police officer Rob Schaffer checks a door alarm at a residence hall. Photo: Bill Wilson/The Anniston Star

David Jennings, the Student Government Association president at Jacksonville State University, said some JSU students think the university can do more to protect students.

Jennings raised his concern at a January board of trustees meeting, just before another campus shooting — this time at Northern Illinois University where a gunman killed five students in February.

Jennings said the issues brought to the SGA were about basic security measures like better lighting.

"Before we left office, we wanted to make sure they knew what we thought, and they've been listening," Jennings said. "(For) a bunch of people, safety is on their minds."

University officials say they began taking a closer look at campus security after last year's Virginia Tech massacre and said they've developed a system for identifying students who are potential threats.

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Wedowee man killed in car accident

By Nick Cenegy
Staff Writer

04-01-2008

A Wedowee man was killed early Saturday when his sport utility vehicle collided with a tree near Steen's Curve in Randolph County.

Julio Bartolon Martinez, 29, was driving a 1996 Ford Explorer in foggy conditions around 4:30 a.m. on Old Highway 431 about 10 miles north of Wedowee when he lost control at a sharp curve in the road, said Paul Harris, Randolph County deputy coroner.

The Explorer left the roadway and collided with a tree, said Harris.

When emergency personnel arrived the vehicle was on its side and Martinez was pronounced dead from blunt-force trauma, he said.

His body was transported to Benefield Funeral Home.

No passengers were in the vehicle.

Two die in separate motorcycle accidents

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama state troopers say separate accidents Monday in Mobile County left two motorcycle riders dead. In one wreck, 37-year-old John Randall Wigley of Semmes collided with a sport utility vehicle. Troopers said the crash occurred at about 6 a.m. on North Shillinger Road. The driver of the SUV was not injured.

Another motorcyclist died several hours later when he was run over by a utility truck. Troopers identified the rider as 20-year-old Barrett S. Dungan of Irvington. The accident occurred at about 12:30 p.m. on U.S. 188 in Irvington.

Troopers said Dungan was the third person to die in a motorcycle accident in Mobile County since Sunday. The accidents remain under investigation.

Suspect sought in B'ham homicide

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- A homicide suspect in Birmingham remains at large and police have turned to the public for help. Birmingham Police are looking for 26-year-old Nicholas Anton Bryant. He's wanted in connection with the March 14th slaying of 41-year-old Travis Thompson. Police said the victim was gunned down at a residence on Avenue G in Ensley.

Police said Bryant should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information pertaining to Bryant's whereabouts is encouraged to call Birmingham police at 254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 254-7777.

Montgomery starts traffic enforcement with cameras today

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- Today, Montgomery officially joins the growing list of cities using cameras for traffic enforcement. Cameras are now in use at seven intersections and city officials say violators only will receive warning citations for the first 30 days. But after April 30th, red light runners will receive $50.00 tickets. The fine will double for drivers who run a red light more than two times in a 12 month period.

The camera captures the license plate number, which police will match with the vehicle's registered owner.

At least 28 states allow red-light cameras.

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Information From: The Montgomery Advertiser

Chief justice backs experience requirement bill

Associated Press

04-01-2008

MONTGOMERY — Alabama's first female chief justice is supporting a bill that would set experience requirements for the state's judges even though it would have prevented her appointment as a judge three weeks after becoming a lawyer.

"To make better decisions on the bench, you need to have practiced law," Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb said.

Cobb is backing a bill by Rep. Paul DeMarco, R-Homewood, that would set minimum experience requirements for people to become judges after Jan. 1, 2009. The bill requires three years experience as a licensed lawyer before becoming a district judge, five years before becoming a circuit judge, and 10 years before becoming an appellate court judge like Cobb.

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Former 2-year college head pleads guilty to 15 charges

Associated Press

04-01-2008

BIRMINGHAM — The fired head of Alabama's two-year colleges, Roy Johnson, formally pleaded guilty Monday to 15 charges in a far-reaching federal investigation of corruption in the state's two-year college system.

Johnson, 62, has agreed to pay more than $18 million. Federal authorities say the money was proceeds from the criminal activity of Johnson and others.

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Firefighters visit children's rehab center

By Todd South
Staff Writer

03-29-2008

Bart Felipe, 9, gives a thumbs-up sign Friday while seated in the driver's seat of an Anniston fire truck at Children's Rehabilitation Services. Photo: Kevin Qualls/The Anniston Star

Firefighters rescue more than just people from fires. Sometimes they capture a child's attention.

And that was all the nurses needed Friday morning at Children's Rehabilitation Services in Anniston.

The center held one of its weekly clinics Friday, and the normal patient load of 15 children hit more than 25.

Anniston firefighters union members have bought crafts materials and volunteered at the center each week since late November, said Lt. Bryan Walker.

But on Friday they brought the big guns.

Bright red fire trucks sat ready for exploration in the parking lot, and "Sparky" the fire safety dog kept the kids excited.

The union first got involved with the center in October 2007 through Marilyn Phelps, mother to fire Sgt. Johnny Phelps.

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Man hurt in fall during dispute with parents

By Nick Cenegy
Staff Writer

03-29-2008

A 23-year-old Anniston man was in critical condition at a Birmingham hospital Friday afternoon after he fell off a van Thursday afternoon near the 100 block of Buckner Circle during a dispute with his parents.

The man had been upset with his 69-year-old father and 57-year-old mother and thought they had called authorities on him, reported Anniston police.

Shortly after 4 p.m., he went into the kitchen, picked up a kitchen knife, and pursued them outside, but they had gotten into a minivan and were leaving the residence, said investigators.

According to police, the young man reportedly jumped on the van and hung on.

Police were unsure Friday whether the parents immediately knew the 23-year-old was on the van or realized it at some point later.

Near Powers Avenue, the man fell off the van and suffered severe head trauma from the impact with the pavement, said police reports.

The 23-year-old was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Birmingham where he was in "touch and go" condition Friday afternoon, police said.

Neither of the parents were injured.

The incident was reported as domestic violence initially, but police said it was too early to tell what — if any — charges may result. Investigators said they are waiting until the young man is well enough to speak to them.

Two bodies recovered, another sought in barge-boat collision

FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) -- Rescue workers Sunday found two more victims who were killed in Thursday night's collision between a barge and a leisure boat just east of Wilson Dam in Lauderdale County.

A third person remains missing.

Lauderdale County Coroner Andy High identified the dead as 53-year-old Ray Peters and 50-year-old Patti Jo Manley, both of Hamilton. The body of a 4th victim, 59-year-old William Hill Jr., also of Hamilton, was pulled from the water Thursday night.

Several agencies have participated in recovery efforts. The deadly waterway accident remains under investigation.

Information from: TimesDaily, http://www.timesdaily.com/

Millbrook officer killed in car accident

MILLBROOK, Ala. (AP) -- A Millbrook police officer was killed when his vehicle struck a tree while he was responding to a civil disturbance call in heavy rain, police said.

James D. Fezatte, 41, was the first Millbrook officer killed in the line of duty, according to a department news release.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident, which occurred at about 10:51 p.m. Saturday. Fezatte's vehicle apparently hydroplaned and left the road, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"This is the first officer that our department has lost in the line of duty since its inception, and it's going to be hard on us all," Millbrook Police Chief Kenneth Bradley said in a statement. "We will be here to support his family and lean on each other to get through this."

Fezatte joined the force in September 2007 shortly after retiring from the Air Force, said P.K. Johnson, assistant police chief.

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Information from: Montgomery Advertiser, http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com

Sheriff: Argument over bull leads to shooting

TONEY, Ala. (AP) -- The sheriff said "a case of bovine mayhem" led one man to shoot another Sunday afternoon. According to Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely, a bull owned by 37-year-old Arthur James Gardner broke loose and entered a neighbor's yard. He said the invading bull ran through a fence and fought with livestock owned by 57-year-old Jerry Pope.

Blakely said the men got into an argument and Gardner struck Pope with a stick. Pope is accused of pulling a handgun and shooting Gardner in the chest. The victim was airlifted to Huntsville Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. Pope was charged with first-degree assault and awaits a bond hearing.

Authorities said Gardner and Pope have a history of arguing over livestock.

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Information from: The Decatur Daily,

Students hail teacher's heroism in bus crash that injured 20

Associated Press

03-30-2008

SPRINGVILLE — Students say it was a teacher's quick actions that kept a bus full of Alabama fifth-graders from going into oncoming traffic before it crashed on I-59 and sent 20 people to the hospital this week.

Math teacher Amy King grabbed the steering wheel and tried to straighten the swerving coach, witnesses said.

Alix Romano, a Bryan Elementary School fifth-grader who sat near the front of the bus, and others told The Birmingham News in a Saturday story that it appeared the bus driver — Gerald F. Bailey, 75, of Cullman — passed out.

King was thrown through the windshield and airlifted to UAB Hospital, where she was listed in serious condition, officials said.

"She jumped over and pulled the wheel," Alix said.

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Barge-boat collision near Wilson Dam kills at least 1

From wire reports

03-30-2008

FLORENCE — A tugboat pushing a barge collided in darkness with another boat on the Tennessee River, killing at least one person on the second boat. A search Friday identified what appears to be the boat's wreckage.

Ray Jordan, commander of the Tennessee Valley Authority police, told the TimesDaily of Florence that William Hill Jr., 59, of Sheffield died in the wreck. Jordan said authorities believe there was at least one more person aboard the vessel.

Mobile police looking to ban masked hoodies

Associated Press

03-30-2008

MOBILE — Mobile police are looking to ban the sale of hooded jackets that zip up over the face and have been used in several recent robberies.

Unlike regular hooded sweatshirts, which zip up to the neck, these garments can be zipped all the way to the top of the head and can have eyeholes cut into them.

"I'm almost to the point of outrage concerning the hoodies," Police Chief Phillip Garrett said. "I don't think these should be sold. The only reason you would buy one is to disguise your identity."

The police department held a news conference on the issue on Friday and the Mobile Press-Register reported it in Saturday's editions.

Garret said the department is looking into writing an ordinance outlawing the sale of the clothing.

He also asked that parents go through their teens' closets and cars to see if they own any of the hoodies, saying innocent kids wearing the outfits could put themselves at risk of being mistaken for criminals by police.

"I don't want anybody to get hurt, the child or the police officer," Garrett said. "But that's going to happen at some point if this doesn't slow down."

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Siegelman returns home from prison: Former governor released on appeal bond

By Bob Johnson
Associated Press

03-29-2008

Former Gov. Don Siegelman makes a statement to the media Friday at his home in Vestavia after being released on an appeal bond from federal prison in Louisiana. Photo: Butch Dill/Associated Press

BIRMINGHAM — Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman returned to his Birmingham home late Friday night, nine months to the day after he was shackled and taken off to federal prison.

Siegelman was released from a federal prison in Oakdale, La. on an appeal bond at about noon and arrived in Birmingham at about 10 p.m.

Looking thin, pale and tired, the 62-year-old Siegelman met with reporters briefly in a parking lot near his home and gave a short statement. He did not take questions.

"It's been a long nine months since I was handcuffed and shackled and placed in the back of a Chevy sedan and taken to the federal penitentiary in Atlanta. I lost my freedom, but I never lost my faith," Siegelman said.

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Federal appeals court agrees to end state foster care oversight

By Phillip Rawls
Associated Press

03-29-2008

MONTGOMERY — A federal appeals court said Alabama's child welfare system has made tremendous improvements and no more federal oversight is necessary after a 20-year transformation from national embarrassment to national model.

In a decision made public Friday, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an order by U.S. District Judge Ira DeMent of Montgomery to end Alabama's landmark child welfare litigation.

"This is another great day for Alabama," Gov. Bob Riley said Friday. "We have built what is now recognized as a model child welfare system for the rest of the nation, and today's ruling is an affirmation of all the incredible progress that has taken place."

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Federal appeals court agrees to end state foster care oversight

By Phillip Rawls
Associated Press

03-29-2008

MONTGOMERY — A federal appeals court said Alabama's child welfare system has made tremendous improvements and no more federal oversight is necessary after a 20-year transformation from national embarrassment to national model.

In a decision made public Friday, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an order by U.S. District Judge Ira DeMent of Montgomery to end Alabama's landmark child welfare litigation.

"This is another great day for Alabama," Gov. Bob Riley said Friday. "We have built what is now recognized as a model child welfare system for the rest of the nation, and today's ruling is an affirmation of all the incredible progress that has taken place."

20 hurt in bus crash near Springville

Associated Press

03-29-2008

SPRINGVILLE — A charter bus carrying dozens of elementary school children on a field trip ran off Interstate 59 and flipped over Friday, injuring 20 people in the second major crash for the transportation company in less than a month.

None of the injuries in the school bus wreck on I-59 were believed to be life-threatening.

Because of the wrecks, federal regulators say they plan to conduct a full compliance review of the firm, Adventure Bus Charter and Tours Inc. of Sumiton, which hasn't had a full safety audit since 1995.

A Marine died in the earlier accident involving a coach owned by the company.

State troopers said an Adventure bus bound for the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, Tenn., with 40 students and two teachers from Bryan Elementary School in Jefferson County overturned about 7:30 a.m. CDT on I-59 about 30 miles northeast of Birmingham. The bus came to rest upside down on the grassy roadside.

State trooper spokesman David Richards said none of the injuries appeared life-threatening, but the driver, a teacher and two students had injuries, including fractures and head trauma. Sixteen more students were evaluated or treated for less-severe injuries, including scrapes and bruises.

"Three buses were traveling together. One bus left the road, hit a guard rail and overturned on the right shoulder," Richards said.

Adventure president and owner Doyle Cummings declined comment on the latest crash. "I don't know nothing," he said.