W. Saunders Road man Charged with First Degree Theft of Property

Dothan, Al.
Christopher Sullivan, white male, 21 years of age, of West Saunders Road was arrested and charged with First Degree Theft of Property with a $30,000 bond.
 

On November 30, 2011 the Dothan Police Department responded to a theft complaint in which the victim reported a diamond ring stolen. Investigators have kept the case open while following leads since it was originally filed and have now made a felony arrest in the case.

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U.S. Marshals join the hunt for a wanted man out of Bay Minette

BAY MINETTE, Al.
The United States Marshalls have joined the hunt for a wanted man out of Bay Minette.

Titus French

Authorities said Titus French is responsible for a shooting that left the victim fighting for his life. It happened the last week in December.

On Wednesday, the family of the victim, Roy Johnson, said they have seen some improvements in his condition, but he is still at USA Medical Center listed in serious condition.

Everyday Geraldine Johnson, the victim’s mother, visits her son at the hospital. He has been on life support for more than two weeks and finally opened his eyes, but still can’t speak.
“It just hurts me so bad to go over there and see my child in that hospital bed like that. And when he comes out of there, it's going to be hard. He's not going to be the same anymore,” Johnson said.
According to family, French was one of the victim's best friends.
"I raised him like a son. He’s just like my child, and I never thought he would do anything like this,” Johnson said.
The Johnson family has been pleading with French to surrender, but he is still on the run.

Bay Minette police said they have checked out every lead they have gotten.
The U.S. Marshals are also on his trail.
While he is on the loose, friends of the victim and suspect believe French has been posting threats to his social media pages.
Veronica Brown said her family has been a target.
“They need to squash all this before somebody seriously gets killed,” Brown said.
Brown and the Johnson family are still begging French to surrender.
"I just want to send this message to you 'Ti' turn yourself in, baby. I still love you. I don't hate you. Just turn yourself in,” Johnson said.
"We need to have justice, and something need to be done. He’s armed and dangerous,” said the victim’s aunt.

Police believe French is still in the area.
If you have any information about his whereabouts, please call Bay Minette police or the U.S. Marshals Service.

Man accused of trying to steal patrol car

Auburn, Al.

An Auburn man is being held in the Lee County Detention Facility after allegedly tussling with a police officer and attempting to flee in the officer’s cruiser following a pursuit Thursday, according to the Auburn Police Division.

Randy L. Reid

Randy L. Reid, 30, was arrested at about 9:45 a.m. and charged with second-degree assault, first-degree theft of property, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, and fleeing or attempting to elude police. Reid also had an outstanding warrant for drug trafficking, according to police.

Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson said the officer attempted to stop the 1990 Honda Accord that Reid was driving on North Donahue Avenue after police received a call pertaining to a domestic incident. Reid allegedly failed to stop, leading the officer on a pursuit down North Donahue Avenue — striking a utility pole — before the vehicle crashed into a fence at a residence in the 500 block of Vickerstaff Street.

Reid attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended by the officer following a brief struggle, in which Reid attempted to flee in the officer’s cruiser, according to police. Dawson said the officer sustained minor injuries but did not need medical attention.

By the time backup arrived, the officer had Reid in his custody, Dawson said.

“He did a real good job,” Dawson said, adding later, “We’re very proud of him.”

Following his arrest, Reid was transported to the Lee County Detention Facility. He is being held on a $36,000 bond.

High-speed chase ends with one arrested for Meth

 Smiths Station, Al.

A Smiths Station man is behind bars after leading Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a high-speed chase on Monday.

Jimmy Carl Lane

Jimmy Carl Lane, 41, was arrested at 1:43 p.m. and charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), several failure to pay drug-related warrants and a host of other traffic citations.

Periodically, an officer will check a vehicle to make sure that the equipment matches the vehicle’s identification number and tag numbers are consistent, Jackson said.

Due to Lane’s suspicious activity and behavior, the deputy ran his tag number and attempted a traffic stop on Lee Road 240 in Smiths Station for what was determined to be a switched tag. Jackson said that Lane refused to stop, and a chase ensued.

After a short chase, Lane lost control of the 1993 GMC truck he was driving and crashed into a ditch on Lee Road 215 in Smiths Station. Lane then exited the vehicle, attempting to flee on foot before being apprehended a short distance away by a deputy, Jackson said.

“He (Lane) did resist arrest, but the deputy was able to take him into custody,” Jackson said.

A quantity of methamphetamine was located on Lane’s person, Jackson said.

Lane is currently being held in the Lee County Detention Facility on a $6,900 bond.

Deputies seeking stolen property find meth lab

Opelika, Al.  

Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies and officers from the Auburn Police Division and Opelika Police Department investigating a report of stolen property Monday at an Opelika residence discovered a methamphetamine lab, the sheriff’s office announced Wednesday.

Shelia Carol Johnson

Arrested in connection with the incident was Shelia Carol Johnson, 57, of Opelika, who has been charged with one count of trafficking methamphetamine and one count of unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

Officers received information about possible stolen property being stored at the Lee Road 128 residence. However, once they arrived, they found items that led them to believe drugs were being produced there. At that time, search warrants were obtained, said Capt. Van Jackson, Lee County Sheriff’s Office chief investigator.

A search of a storage shed behind the mobile home revealed tubing, glassware, lye, burned foil, a generator and a quantity of methamphetamine, according to a news release. Other drug paraphernalia was located inside the home, Jackson said.

Johnson is currently being held in the Lee County Detention Facility on a $55,000 bond.

6 &1/2 years later, Jefferson County judge signs order declaring missing Mountain Brook teen Natalee Holloway dead

BIRMINGHAM, Al.
Dave Holloway said the 6½ years since his daughter Natalee Holloway's disappearance has been "tough," but it may be days before the full impact hits from a Jefferson County probate judge's ruling today officially declaring his daughter to be dead.

Lawyer Mark White and Dave Holloway talk to the media

"I have been preparing myself for this day for the last 6½ years," Dave Holloway said after the hearing in which Probate Judge Alan King issued an order on legal presumption of death. "We hope that today will bring some closure."
Natalee Holloway was 18 when she disappeared during a post-graduation trip to Aruba with students from Mountain Brook High School.
She was last seen leaving a nightclub with three men including Joran van der Sloot, now 24. He is the prime suspect in Natalee's disappearance, which the FBI is treating as a homicide, but has not been charged in connection with her case.
Dave Holloway said he found a sense of justice in van der Sloot's guilty plea Wednesday to killing 21-year-old Stephany Flores in Lima Peru, five years to the day after Natalee disappeared. He said he hopes van der Sloot gets the 30-year term prosecutors seek.
"I hope the Flores family will finally get justice," he said. "He committed a very heinous crime. The guy needs to be taken off the streets."
Van der Sloot also faces federal charges in Birmingham that he tried to extort $250,000 for information about Natalee's whereabouts. Dave Holloway said he thinks there is "more than a 50 percent chance" he will one day see van der Sloot in a Birmingham courtroom.
The father said the petition he filed in June to have his daughter officially declared dead was needed to handle several lingering issues. It also might eventually help the criminal probe in her case, he said.
"We really didn't want to do it, but it came down to taking care of some needs," he said after the hearing.
During the September hearing, the father said his daughter's estate was worth less than $5,000. He had continued to pay her insurance premiums, and had invested money for Natalee's college that he now needs for his son's senior year in college -- all of which requires a death certificate.
Thursday's brief hearing focused on whether any evidence had been found that Natalee is alive. Beth Holloway, Natalee's mother, was present and did not object.
Mark White, one of Dave Holloway's lawyers said the search for evidence she is alive was exhaustive.
"I can't imagine any person or any place that remains unaware of the tragic circumstance that brings us here," he said. "No evidence has been found that Natalee Holloway is alive."