Tennessee woman arrested in Alabama mini-storage burglaries

BRIDGEPORT, Al.
The Jackson County sheriff's department arrested a Tennessee woman Tuesday in connection with several mini-storage burglaries in Bridgeport.

Sheenia Nicole Lawhorne

In a news release, Sheriff Chuck Phillips said investigators arrested Sheenia Nicole Lawhorne, 29, of Kimball, Tenn., in connection with a series of burglaries and thefts from mini- storage units.
Lawhorne was charged with four counts of burglary and three counts of theft, Phillips said.
The investigation led to the arrest of Brandon Condra earlier, Phillips said.
Lawhorne was Condra's accomplice in the crimes, Phillips said.
Lawhorne is being held in the Jackson County jail on a $10,000 bond.

Washington Post investigates earmarked projects near lawmakers' property: Sen. Richard Shelby is a focus

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Post this morning took a close look at earmarks secured by Sen. Richard Shelby to revitalize downtown Tuscaloosa where he owns a commercial building.

Sen. Richard Shelby

In a series called "Capitol Assets" the Post reviewed records for all 535 members of Congress and found dozens of lawmakers who supported earmarks for work done near their personal real estate holdings.

In a sidebar about Shelby, R-Ala., the Post noted that the block where Shelby's building sits was among the most blighted in the area, but it was not on the city's list of blocks to be bought out or condemned or razed as part of an urban renewal plan.

Here is the link.

UPDATE: Here is the full statement from Shelby's spokesman Jonathan Graffeo about the Post's findings:

"Senator Shelby clearly meets not just the letter but also the spirit of
the ethics rules. For example, he is not the sole or principal pecuniary
beneficiary of the projects because he receives no financial benefit
whatsoever. Moreover, he spent his own money to replace the sidewalk and
landscape the grounds in front of his business, and to install a parking
lot for his employees and customers so that they would not use the parking
garage for which he secured public funding. Senator Shelby neither
requested nor wants his property included in the city's plans."

Slain Mobile Officer Steven Green honored during a flag ceremony

MOBILE, Al.
 Slain Officer Steven Green was honored during a flag ceremony Monday afternoon at Mobile police headquarters on Government Boulevard.
Officers, cadets and civilian staff members stood silent in formation behind an honor guard on the front lawn as a procession of Alabama and Florida law enforcement personnel arrived from Pensacola.
They were escorting an American flag donated by the Honor Network, an Austin Texas-based nonprofit. It was founded after the 9/11 terror attacks to provide flags for the funerals of fallen service members, law officers and firefighters.
After exiting a black SUV in the center of the procession, Officer Gaston Villaseca held the folded flag against his chest and slowly led other members of the Fifth Precinct, Squad 4 — Officer Green’s squad — up the sidewalk to Police Chief Micheal T. Williams, who stood next to Green’s widow, Valerie.
Williams and Valerie Green then turned and led the procession into the lobby of police headquarters, where the flag was placed on display in a memorial that included a wreath wrapped in black ribbon with a photograph of Officer Green in the center.
After the ceremony, Valerie Green and the slain officer’s mother, Erica Hyter, spoke to members of the media to say thank you to the community for prayers and support.

Valerie Green addresses media during flag ceremony

"My husband loved doing his job. He never met a stranger," Valerie Green said, holding a wedding photo of she and her husband in one hand, and a portrait photo of their family in the other. "He was the sweetest person I’ve ever met and he would do anything for anybody."
Erica Hyter said, "At this time I love my son so, I’m in disbelief. I can’t believe that this is actually happening."
Robbery suspect Lawrence Wallace Jr. attacked and stabbed Steven Green on Friday afternoon moments after being removed from a patrol car at Mobile County Metro Jail.
Police spokeswoman Ashley Rains compared the department to a family and said that the days following Green’s death had been "very rough." But she said that Monday’s ceremony would "help our family heal."
"None of us feels as though we’ve really moved past the loss of Brandon Sigler in 2009," Rains said. "It’s just a deeper loss with another officer."
Sigler had been the most recent officer killed in Mobile. While off duty, he was fatally shot in June 2009 as he tried to break up a fight in the parking lot of the apartment complex where he lived.

 

Green, 36, died at the University of South Alabama Medical Center hours after Wallace stabbed him. Wallace later shot police Officer Mark Johnson in the arm before being killed in an exchange of gunfire with police on Daytona Drive.
Green is also survived by three young children.
Within hours of his death, people were posting messages of condolence and support on a Facebook page set up for the family, and several opportunities now exist for those wishing to make donations.

Donations can be sent to the Mobile Police Law Enforcement Foundation at 2460 Government St. Mobile, AL 36606, or made at any branch of Community Bank and Mortgage.

55 electronic gambling machines seized in Walker County raids

JASPER, Al.
Authorities say more than 50 electronic gambling machines were seized Monday afternoon as Walker County authorities raided three illegal gambling halls.
The operation was a joint effort by the Walker County District Attorney's Office and the Walker County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff's investigators, with help from inmates from the Walker County Jail, spent several hours Monday afternoon removing the machines from locations in Sumiton, Nauvoo and Eldridge.
District Attorney Bill Adair said police seized 55 gambling machines and several thousand dollars among the three locations. No charges were filed against any individuals.
Adair said his office has filed for civil forfeiture of items seized in the raids.

Suspect in custody after gunfire, chase in Auburn

AUBURN, Al.
An Auburn man faces numerous charges, including attempted murder, after an incident involving gunfire, foot and car chases and an alleged attempt to run over a police officer Tuesday morning in Auburn.

Antonio O. Scott

Antonio O. Scott, 22, was taken into custody by Auburn authorities after a car-turned-foot chase ended in the Rustic Ridge Court community.

The chase began shortly after 8 a.m. after an officer recognized Scott, for whom the APD holds three outstanding warrants for attempting to elude a police officer, driving on Shug Jordan Parkway heading toward Colonial Mall.

Scott, who also had outstanding probation revocation warrants for escape and burglary from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office out for him, had escaped all three prior attempts to apprehend him, said APD Chief Tommy Dawson.

The officer, who knew of Scott’s tendency to run from and fight police officers, called for backup, at which time he pulled Scott over at the intersection of North Dean Road and University Drive, Dawson said.

“When the officer pulled his vehicle in front of Scott’s to block him in and got out of his car to approach him, Scott accelerated into the officer, causing him to bounce off the car … striking him in the legs,” Dawson said. “He (Scott) almost pinned the officer against his own patrol car.”

“At that point, the officer began firing at the vehicle striking it several times as it fled the scene as other officers in the area began pursuing Scott,” Dawson said.

The number of shots fired at the suspect vehicle is unknown; however, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation has been notified of the incident, as it is customary to investigate when a police officer fires his weapon in the line of duty.

Scott led officers to a cul-de-sac in the 1100 block of Rustic Ridge Court off University Drive, where he exited his vehicle and fled on foot. He was captured in a wooded area near HealthPlus Fitness Center, Dawson said.

Scott was not injured in the incident, though while in custody at APD headquarters began damaging an interview room, for which he will face additional charges.

The identity of officer struck in the incident, who has been a member of the APD for approximately a year, is not being released at this time, Dawson said. The officer, who sustained bruising injuries, was back at APD headquarters after the incident but will be placed on administrative leave while the ABI investigates, which is according to procedure any time an officer fires his weapon, Dawson said.

Police will review dashboard camera footage of the incident that shows Scott accelerating into the officer, but are not releasing it at this time, Dawson said. Officers continued to search Scott’s vehicle and the wooded area he was apprehended in for any weapons or drugs, Dawson said. None has been located at this time.

Dawson said the chase prompted memories of Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy James Anderson who was struck and killed during a routine traffic stop in 2009. 

“Deputy Anderson did come to mind and we’re so thankful to God that our officer and Mr. Scott were not injured,” Dawson said. “It’s a dangerous job and a dangerous situation. A good police officer could’ve been killed today.”

Lee County Coroner: Child whose bones were found in Opelika was victim of homicide

OPELIKA, Al.
A child whose skeletal remains were found in an Opelika trailer park on Jan. 28 was the victim of a homicide, Lee County Coroner Bill Harris announced this afternoon.
An examination by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences did not yield a cause of death nor the child's identity, race or gender, Harris said.
Authorities believe the child was less than the age of 10.
The skull was found Jan. 28 at Brook Haven Trailer Park in Opelika. Two days later, more skeletal remains were found near where the skull was located.
Another search of the heavily wooded area adjacent to the trailer park unearthed more human remains with-in 50 to 75 feet of where the skull was found.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Opelika Police Department Investigative Services Division at (334) 705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at (334) 745-8665 or the Lee County Coroner's Office at (334)737-3620.

Group plans to open electronic bingo hall in Al.

BRIGHTON, Al.
Brighton's city council has approved a business license for a new electronic bingo hall at a location that was raided by authorities last year.
Ken Boyd, who spoke for American Legion Post 347 in Fairfield, said Tuesday the goal is to open the 300-machine charity bingo hall on Feb. 21 at the site of the former Anchor Club.
In April, authorities seized 500 gambling machines from the Anchor Club on grounds they were illegal.
Boyd told the council the building has been renovated and the business will meet legal operation standards. He says the post has met with Jefferson County sheriff's authorities.
Chief Deputy Randy Christian says his office has not met with the applicant but they advised them to comply with the law.