Dothan shooting suspect tried to choke police dog, detective testifies

DOTHAN, Al.
 Police say an Alabama man tried to choke a police dog as he resisted arrest on charges that he shot two people outside a Dothan nightclub.

Tavis Banks

Tavis Banks is charged with attempted murder and assault in the February shootings. A Houston County judge ordered his case to be sent to a grand jury after a preliminary hearing Friday.
Dothan police Cpl. Derek Wieczorek testified officers sent a police dog into Banks' apartment after he refused to come out hours after the shootings. He said Banks grabbed the dog by the neck and choked it until the dog's handler subdued him with a Taser.
Investigators say Banks wounded two people outside the nightclub during a fight with another man.

2 principals taking Dothan City School board to court

DOTHAN, Al.
 Two principals are taking the Dothan City school system to court over its decision to let them go for poor performance.
Greg Yance of Girard Middle School and Ron Snell of Northview High School both say the Dothan City School Board opted not to renew their contracts for personal and political reasons.
Court records show both men filed appeals Thursday in Houston County Circuit Court.
The board approved recommendations against rehiring both principals last month. It cited poor management and a lack of communication as reasons for letting Snell go, while saying Yance lacked control of his students and had allowed too many disruptions.
Both men have asked for an expedited hearing.

Mobile homeowner holds intruder at gunpoint; wife says man was peeping through window

MOBILE, AL.
Thomas Doughtery, 43, of Prairieville, Louisiana was arrested after he allegedly tried to break into a home on Delwood Drive South around 10 a.m. Friday morning.

Thomas Doughtery

The homeowner says she was in the shower when she noticed a man peeping through a window. She immediately jumped out of the shower and called her husband on the phone.

When the husband arrived, he found the man outside the home taking items from the wife's suv.

He was able to hold Doughtery at gunpoint until police arrived.
Police arrested Dougherty and charged him with menacing, attempted burglary, and breaking and entering a vehicle.

14-year-old boy drowns in Bayou Sara, police say

MOBILE, Al.
 A 14-year-old boy drowned Friday afternoon while swimming with friends in Bayou Sara, a Saraland police spokesman said.
The group of friends was swimming near the boat launch at the end of Ruben Avenue in Saraland when the boy went under and failed to surface, said Detective Arlan Gaines.
Police were called at 5:18 p.m., and a search was begun. Gaines said the boy’s body was recovered at 6:29 p.m.
The boy’s identity was being withheld Friday evening pending notification of relatives, but Gaines said he was a Saraland resident.
In addition to the Saraland Police Department, agencies responding included the Saraland Fire-Rescue Department, Alabama Marine Police, Mobile County Sheriff’s Flotilla, and the Chickasaw and Satsuma flotillas.

DeKalb authorities looking for Todd Lashane Thomas in connection with Crossville teen's death

CROSSVILLE, Al.
 DeKalb County Sheriff's investigators have charged Todd Lashane Thomas with contributing to the delinquency of children and want to question him in the death of a 17-year-old Crossville man.

Todd Lashane Thomas (DeKalb County Sheriff's Department)

Alan Michael Tarwater was found unresponsive in a residence on County Road 1931 at 3 p.m. Wednesday by two other juveniles. Tarwarter apparently died while sleeping from as yet undetermined reasons, police said.
Authorities are looking for Thomas, 43, who left the scene when the body was discovered. Police said Thomas is 6-foot tall, approximately 225 pounds with green eyes and brown hair. Along with the warrant for contributing to the delinquency of children, Thomas also has outstanding warrants for previous traffic offenses, police said.
Investigators are concentrating on the events that occurred in the hours and days prior to Tarwater's death.
Autopsy results on Tarwater are pending and the body was released to Carr Funeral Home in Guntersville, police said. Because Tarwater had been a ward of Marshall County DHR for some time, that agency is handling funeral arrangements and other details.
Anyone who has knowledge of Thomas or his whereabouts should contact the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office at 256-845-3801.

3 Decatur residents learn lesson: Wear seatbelts if you're doing drugs

DECATUR, Al.
Decatur police stopped a car because the people inside weren't wearing seatbelts and ended up arresting them on drug charges.
Michael Allen White was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, resisting arrest, unlawful possession of marijuana, harassment and for failing to wear his seatbelt, police said. He attempted to conceal a quantity of cocaine, police said. White was later transferred to the Morgan County Jail in lieu of a $4,500 bond.
Edward Donnel Lomax was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, and for carrying a pistol without a permit after he was found to be in possession of a handgun and a quantity of cocaine, police said. Lomax was transferred to the Morgan County Jail in lieu of a $3,500 bond.
Travia Fenise Garth was placed under arrest for possession of prescription medication without a prescription, police said. Garth was transported to Decatur City Jail in lieu of a $500 bond.
After stopping the car for the seatbelts infraction, officers smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the car. The trio was arrested after further investigation of the vehicle.

Troy police release sketch of suspect wanted in connection with sexual assaults

TROY, Al.
Troy Police have released a sketch of the man wanted in connection with the two March 26 sexual assaults at Hunter's Mountain trailer park.
Investigators are looking for a black man with a dark complexion in his late 30s to early 50s who stands about 6-foot-six-inches tall and weighs about 250 pounds. At the time of the sexual assaults he was wearing a black or dark blue shirt and loose-fitting black or blue jeans. The victims told police the man had closely cropped hair and had an athletic build.
Information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the attacks is worth a $25,000 reward. Anyone with tips or information about the sexual assaults is asked to call the Troy Police Department at 334-566-0500, or the Secret Witness Line at 334-566-5555.

Felony Arrest for Theft by Deception

Dothan,Al.
Christopher Davis, white male, 34 years of age, of Cowarts, Alabama was arrested and charged with First Degree Theft of Property by Deception with a $15,000 bond.

Christopher Davis

Earlier today the Dothan Police Department made a felony arrest following an investigation of theft by deception. Police began investigating the case March 19, 2012 when the victim filed a report indicating she had paid a large amount of money to Christopher Davis in 2011 for home renovations she had contracted him for. The victim stated the work was not completed and purchased materials were never delivered to the residence. Investigators say the case will now be closed following Davis’ arrest.