Baldwin County Sheriff's Office arrests 2 on capital murder charges

Crystal Rose Shaw

FOLEY, Al.
A woman and a man face capital murder charges after a deadly home-invasion shooting last night at a trailer park near Foley, according to the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office.

Crystal Rose Shaw, 28, was booked into the Baldwin County Corrections Center this morning. Fredrick Ike Odom was also charged with capital murder, Sheriff's spokesman Maj. Anthony Lowery said.

A search is ongoing for a third suspect, he said.

According to Lowery, during two separate home invasions in adjoining residences one victim was shot and killed and another shooting victim was flown to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. A third victim was beaten, he said.

The Sheriff's Office will release more information during a press conference at 11:30 a.m.

Budget cuts cause delays in Ala. forensic tests

MONTGOMERY, Al.

 The funding crisis in Alabama's General Fund budget is being felt in particular by law enforcement agencies and district attorney's offices with delays in critical lab work results needed to investigate crimes and bring cases to trial.

This includes tests to determine if something found in a car or on a suspect is an illegal substance like cocaine or marijuana or contains legal ingredients like talcum powder or pencil shavings. Also being delayed are tests to determine how a person died and those that show if arrested drivers were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

State Forensic Sciences Director Michael Sparks said his agency's funding has been cut 33 percent in the past three years and there are 27 fewer employees than in 2009.

He said the funding shortfall is causing backlogs, particularly in drug tests and on toxicology tests that determine cause of death.

The agency has long suffered from budget shortfalls, but Sparks said they had $14 million to spend three years ago and the agency had eliminated most backlogs. Then the recession hit and in the past three years, Sparks has watched the agency's budget drop almost $5 million a year. Labs have been closed and some key services have been dropped, such as providing transportation to ship bodies to laboratories.

"We have to investigate everything that is brought to us," Sparks said. "If someone is found dead, they want to know what happened."

Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey said quick results on a toxicology test can mean whether a case is successfully prosecuted.

"I can't prosecute cases until I have a toxicology report in my hands," Casey said.

She said the delays are causing grand jury proceedings to be delayed, slowing down how long it takes for indictments to be brought against suspects.

Casey said she had a drawer in her office in Oneonta that contains about 700 cases that need to go before a grand jury. She said in many of those cases the laboratory work has not been completed.

She said the state's district attorneys have already been told more budget cuts are coming in the session of the Legislature that begins in February.

"I don't see how we can be cut anymore," Casey said.

She said she has already had to delay grand jury meetings.

The chairman of the state House Ways and Means General Fund Committee, Republican Rep. Jim Barton of Mobile, said the cuts may get worst for agencies like Forensic Sciences and predicted as much as a $400 million cut for next year's General Fund budget.

"We have long passed from cutting muscle to bone in cutting most of these departments," Barton said.

Sparks said one possible solution might be to increase some of the fees already charged to help pay for some of the department's work, including one placed on people charged with driving under the influence.

But Barton said there is no enthusiasm in the Legislature or among the general public for raising court fees, even those charged people who violate the law.

"At the end of the day, I don't see us raising any fees," Barton said

Smiths Station man dies in mobile home fire

 Smiths Station, Al.

A mobile home fire early Monday morning left a Smiths Station man dead, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Ronnie Eller, 50, was the lone resident of the mobile home near Opelika Road in Smiths Station, where fire crews were dispatched shortly after 5 a.m. Monday. The fire destroyed the mobile home.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but the sheriff’s office said that candles were being used in the residence at the time.

Two nabbed in Christmas Day burglary in Huntsville

HUNTSVILLE, Al.
Two men were arrested on burglary charges early Sunday after they were caught inside a Huntsville tire store.

 

 

    Doyle Q. Mclin (Madison County jail)                                                                        George A. Gardner (Madison County jail)

 

Doyle Quincy Mclin, 31, and George Arthur Gardner, 44, remained in the Madison County jail Monday, each charged with third-degree burglary. According to police, the manager of OK Tires, 805 Memorial Parkway, called police around 2:30 a.m. Sunday to report that he could see the men in the building.
Arriving officers set up a perimeter and a K-9 officer and his dog, Axle, went in and took Mclin into custody, a police report said. Gardner was also arrested after a scuffle, during which he was injured.
The extent of his injuries were not clear Monday. The investigation into the burglary was ongoing.

IRS warns taxpayers to be wary: 'Tis the season for tax scams

HUNTSVILLE, Al.
It's end-of-the-year tax-filing time, which also means: 'Tis  the season for tax scams.
The Internal Revenue Service is reminding residents that time is running out to file returns and claim benefits on 2010 taxes.

"... You must take action no later than Dec. 31," said IRS spokesman Dan Boone. "Action now could save you money later."
Some of the tax benefits that need to be taken by the end of the year or, in this case, the end of next week, include charitable contributions, energy-efficient home improvements and contributing the maximum to retirement accounts.
And, Boone said, as the tax-filing season approaches, the number of tax scams increase.
Among the scams are emails claiming to be from the IRS. But Boone emphasizes that they are not from the agency.
"Scammers often use official-looking emails," Boone said. "The IRS never initiates contact by email. All unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS should be reported to phishing@irs.gov."
If the IRS needs to contact you, most often you will get an official notice in the mail, he said. If someone claiming to be an IRS employee calls or comes to your home or business, be careful. Boone said IRS callers should provide their name and employee ID number. IRS visitors should have an official government badge or ID.
"We've had reports this year of tax scammers using the mail, going door to door, and even using the good names of local churches, attempting to trick people into filing false tax-refund claims or giving out their personal information," Boone said.
He said if anyone has any doubts about any type of contact from the IRS being authentic, don't hesitate to decline giving out any information.
"Then call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to confirm that it's really from the IRS," he said.
Alabama Securities Commission Director Joseph P. Borg joined with Boone in warning residents about some unwelcome season's greetings.
"Citizens should use the vast array of IRS and ASC resources to protect themselves and learn how to make informed financial decisions," Borg said. "With tax rebates and refunds on the way, large numbers of baby boomers retiring, and people desperate to make higher returns on life savings - it's time to proceed with caution."
They said identity theft is a recurring problem with the wide use of computers and smartphones.
"With identity theft on the rise, people must be vigilant in protecting their personal information on paper, cell phones and computers," they said.
Another popular scam is an offer of "free money," they said.
"Flyers and advertisements for free money from the IRS, suggesting that the taxpayer can claim government money with little or no documentation, have been appearing in communities around the country, including some in Alabama," Boone said.
Borg said the scammers sometimes target church congregations, exploiting their good intentions and credibility.
"These schemes also often spread by word of mouth among unsuspecting and well-intentioned people telling their friends and relatives," he said. "Frequently, these scams target taxpayers who normally do not have a filing requirement, such as retirees, and involve claims for nonexistent Social Security rebates."
They both advise Alabamians that a sure way to help prevent being victimized is by remembering the old adage:
"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

Brewton Police Department: Arrests made in meth lab cases

 Brewton, Al.
A Dec. 14 arrest at Blueberry Hill Trailer Park in connection with a meth lab discovery there lead to an investigation that ended with the brother of the first suspect arrested on similar charges.
Lt. Bryan Davis, commander of the Brewton Police Department’s Narcotics Unit, said the arrest came after agents completed an investigation into the discovery of the working meth lab.
Gregory Shultz, who was originally charged in connection to the discovery of the meth lab, prompted the investigation of other suspects by Brewton police officers.
“As we continued the investigation into the lab found there, we were able to identify the trailer where the lab was found belongs to Jonathan Schultz,” Davis said. “He is the brother of Gregory Shultz who was arrested on Dec. 14.”
Johnathan “Jody” Schultz was taken into custody after officers made contact with the suspect in a mobile home near his residence.
“On Dec. 22, agents were able to make contact with Jonathan Schultz hiding in a bedroom in a separate trailer in Blueberry Hill,” Davis said. “He was then taken into custody by Sgt. David Mathis and Cpl. Brian Wesley. Schultz was then transported to the Escambia County jail.”
In a separate incident, Davis said three Monroeville residents were arrested at Colonial Manor Motel in connection with suspected illegal drug activity and the discovery of a working methamphetamine lab at the motel.
“On Tuesday night our agents received a call from a concerned citizen that was at a local pharmacy in reference to subjects attempting to pay customers to purchase pseudoephedrine,” Davis said. “Sgt. Williams Mosley responded to the call and came in contact with a female subject when he arrived.”
Angel Coakley, 28, of Monroeville had attempted to purchase pseudoephedrine, Davis said.
“During an investigation into the allegations, officers learned Coakley was traveling with her boyfriend and his brother,” Davis said. “The two brothers were located driving in circles in the Walmart parking lot allegedly waiting for Coakley to return with the pseudoepehdrine.”
Michael Brandon Morris, 31, and his brother, Charles Gregory Morris, 23, both of Monroeville were detained and questioned in connection with Coakley’s activity.
“Mosley and our K9 Officer Deric Smith were joined by officer Nicholas Stanley and continued an investigation into the incident,” Davis said. “The investigation led them to a motel room at the Colonial Manor Motel. A search warrant was later executed on the room and agents located an operational methamphetamine lab, drug paraphernalia and methamphetamines in the room.”
Davis said all three suspects were transported to the Escambia County Detention Center where they were charged with a variety of drug-related crimes.
Coakley and Michael Morris were both charged with first- and second-degree unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance; unlawful possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamines and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Charles Morris was charged with attempting to commit a controlled substance crime.
Bond information was not available as of press time.

Four men taken into custody for suspected burglary

 Atmore, Al.
Atmore police officers arrested three men and a juvenile Tuesday after an anonymous call led them to a suspicious vehicle parked outside of a vacant home on Crow Street.

Lee

Fernandez

Arnold

Officers responded to a call around 3 a.m. reporting four people had exited the vehicle and run across the street to the house, APD officials said.According to an APD report, officers surrounded the home and apprehended Nathaniel Scott
Fernandez, 18, of Atmore, Judd Keith Arnold, 18, of Atmore, Noah Joshua Lee, 27, of Flomaton and a juvenile. Each was charged with burglary in the first degree.
The three adults were transported to the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton. The juvenile was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center in Bay Minette.