Reward offered in investigation of attack on postal worker

 Anniston, Al.
The U.S. Postal Service is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for anyone who has information about the assault of an Anniston letter carrier.

The assault happened between 10:15 and 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 31, when the 50-year-old man was delivering mail on McKleroy Avenue in West Anniston.

Police said the postal worker had pulled up to a mailbox in the 3100 block, when a male suspect jumped into his truck and began to assault him.

The suspect, identified as a man in his mid-20s, first used a stun gun to repeatedly shock the letter carrier and afterward began to beat the victim with his fists, Anniston police Lt. Fred Forsythe said.

The letter carrier fought back and managed to push the suspect out of the truck and drive a short distance away before notifying Anniston EMS, police said.

Emergency workers arrived and transported the victim to Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Anniston investigators for weeks have tried to establish a motive for the crime but have so far been unsuccessful. The suspect did not attempt to steal anything from the postal truck, and there appears to be no connection between the suspect and victim, police said.

Lead investigator Clint Parris called the crime a “random act of violence.” He said the letter carrier was not working his normal mail route on the day of the assault; the victim had been covering the West Anniston route for a coworker.

Now, in an attempt to encourage people who know anything about the crime to speak up, the Postal Service is offering up to $50,000 to anyone who helps lead to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the assault.

So far, police have no other identifying information about the suspect other than a general description of his age.

Residents who have information about the crime should contact the Anniston Police Department’s investigative division at 256-240-4000 or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455, option 2.

Fairhope officer fired for racially offensive behavior

FAIRHOPE, Al.
A Fairhope corrections officer was fired because he showed another officer a YouTube video excerpt from "Song of the South" using a city computer, and made comments the other officer considered racially offensive, according to public records.

Tony Avera

The Personnel Board on Jan. 31 upheld the firing of Tony Avera, the corrections officer, following a closed hearing. After the hearing,  documents relating to the case were released under Alabama’s Public Records Law, Wednesday.
The name, sex and race of the other employee were redacted by the city. An accompanying letter from City Clerk Lisa Hanks said the city withheld some documents and redacted portions of others, citing "the City’s EEO/Harassment policy."
According to a "Notice of Termination" dated Jan. 10, Avera showed the second officer "video taken from the movie 'Song of the South,' which featured 'Uncle Remus' and the 'Tar Baby.' You used a City of Fairhope computer to access the video on the internet and to display it to (redacted). In addition, you questioned (redacted) the use of the 'N' word and its context by African Americans versus Caucasians. Both of these incidents were racially offensive to (redacted)."
In boldface type, the notice continued, "You violated the City's Equal Employment Opportunity/Harassment Policy and the City's policies on computer and internet usage."
"Song of the South" is a Walt Disney production released in 1946. Using animated characters and live actors, the musical is set in the Deep South during post-Civil War Reconstruction. It is based on the folk tales of Uncle Remus and features Br’er Rabbit, his Briar Patch and the Tar Baby.
Cartoon excerpts from the film were also released, and today several excerpts are available on YouTube. Some of its content was considered racially offensive even in 1946.
The city also released Avera's formal grievance dated Jan. 17, in which he disputes the allegations and said he only intended to explain what "being thrown in the briar patch" meant.
According to Avera's grievance, he and the second corrections officer were discussing their supervisor's decision to remove a television from their work area and the announced suspension of employees' Internet privileges. Avera said it had been "common practice for employees to watch television and utilize the Internet for viewing videos, playing games, or other activities when they did not interfere with our duties."
In response to the other employee complaint about the changes, Avera said he stated that "they can 'throw my (butt) in the briar patch and send me to Afghanistan.'" The other employee asked what his reference to the briar patch meant, and Avera said he explained "the story of Br'er Rabbit and the Tar Baby."
By way of further explanation, Avera said he showed the video on YouTube. The other officer expressed the opinion that it was racist, and he disagreed. The conversation moved on to his question "about the use of the word otherwise known as the 'N' word by African-Americans."
Avera said the other employee never expressed discomfort, and that he had never been accused of racism. "To the extent that (redacted) was offended by this conversation, I want (redacted) to know that I am deeply sorry for any discomfort (redacted) may have felt and I regret my failure to perceive this," his grievance said.
Avera is one of six Police Department employees recommended for firing by Chief Bill Press. One of the other five dropped an appeal and was terminated; another retired.
Details about allegations involving the other employees have not been made public. No other Personnel Board hearings have been held on the remaining three, who have not been identified.
Neither Press nor John Beck, the attorney representing Avera, returned telephone calls seeking comment Wednesday.

Dothan Police identify wanted scam artist, seek help locating him

Dothan, Al.
Stephen Bernard Brown, black male, 43 years of age, of Colquitt, Georgia is WANTED for Second Degree Theft of Property. 
 

Stephen Bernard Brown

The Dothan Police Department has recently investigated a scam going on in our area. Investigators say Stephen Brown has posed as a sales representative of an electronics and furniture company and solicited business to at least one, and possibly more locations. One victim of the scam described the transaction to police saying Brown was very convincing as a salesman and received cash from her for items she believed she was purchasing. The suspect agreed to sell the victim two televisions, two chairs and a couch requesting half of the payment at the time of the agreement. The victim paid in cash and was told her items would be delivered later that day at which time the final balance would be due, unfortunately the transaction was a scam and promised items never arrived.

Investigators are releasing this information immediately in a three fold effort. First, police want to alert the public in an effort to stop any additional scams from occurring. Second, police believe more victims of this scam may recognize the offender and come forward with their case. Third, police have signed a warrant against Brown but have not located him and are asking anyone with information about the whereabouts of the suspect to call the Dothan Police Department or CrimeStoppers 334-793-7000.

Pair of Gadsden teens face multiple theft charges

 Gadsden, Al.

Two Gadsden teenagers have been charged with stealing iPods and computers at Walmart in Attalla, then breaking into a car in the parking lot and stealing a purse, Attalla Police Chief Lamont Tucker said.

They also are charged by the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office with the theft of two four-wheelers, Sheriff Todd Entrekin said.

Christian Conner Lee Dawson                    Joshua David Parrish

Christian Conner Lee Dawson, 18, and Joshua David Parrish, 19, were charged with second-degree theft, unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle and third-degree theft, Tucker said.

They also are charged by the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office with first-degree theft of two four-wheelers stolen on Feb. 3 on Crudup Road off U.S. Highway 11, Investigator Jason Argo said.

Argo said the sheriff’s department got a call on Feb. 4 that the four-wheelers had been at a residence on Spring Rock Street in Gadsden, where Parrish lives.

At that residence, investigators talked to Parrish’s uncle, David Lee Parrish, 35, who was taken into custody on outstanding warrants for distribution of a controlled substance.

It was determined the four-wheelers were in the woods on Pennsylvania Avenue, a few blocks from Spring Rock Street, and they were recovered that night, Argo said.

Dawson and Joshua David Parrish allegedly went in Walmart about 11 p.m. Feb. 5 and broke into the locked cabinet where iPod products and laptops are kept, Tucker said.

They took several iPods and a laptop, threw them over a fence in the store’s garden center and left the store.

Tucker said they retrieved the items from outside the store, then stole a purse from a Toyota Tacoma pickup parked at the store.

The teens admitted to police they had stolen at least 10 cellphones from Walmart in the last few weeks.

They were taken into custody on Feb. 6 after being stopped by police in Southside on a traffic violation. They were identified as suspects in the Attalla and Etowah County investigations.

Tucker said Lt. Doug Jordan led the Attalla investigation.

Federal report outlines idea for a Georgia to Mississippi interstate

MACON, Ga.
A federal report details plans for a possible new interstate highway that would move traffic from Augusta through central Georgia and Alabama to Natchez, Miss.
The report on the proposed 14th Amendment Highway was obtained by The Telegraph newspaper of Macon under the Freedom of Information Act.
In Georgia, one proposal calls for the interstate cutting through an area just south of Macon.
No funding for the federal route has been identified. The Federal Highway Administration launched the study to meet a congressional mandate.
The report says the new interstate would be more than 600 miles, linking Augusta and Natchez with three other metro areas: Montgomery in Alabama, and Columbus and Macon in Georgia.
"Although several major Interstate highways pass through the corridor, they are all generally oriented in a north-south direction," the report states. "There is no single designated east-west Interstate or other major highway that directly connects all five cities."
The 14th Amendment Highway study examined five options for a new route from Augusta to Natchez. The options ranged from about $296 million to $7.7 billion.
Experts say that even if the new highway is never built, its ideas will likely affect other transportation plans.

Two arrested after shooting outside Montgomery's Eastdale Mall

MONTGOMERY, Al.
A shooting at the Eastdale Mall in Montgomery has sent an adult male to the hospital.
Sgt. Regina Duckett, with the Montgomery Police Department, could not confirm the age or name of the victim, but did say the man was taken to Baptist South. She said he was shot multiple times, and he is in critical but stable condition.
The shooting occurred outside the mall near the entrance to Sears.
Duckett said police have arrested two suspects in connection with the shooting. At this time, investigators don't believe there are additional suspects.
Montgomery police continues to investigate the shooting. We will update as more information is released.

Five boxers from Dothan’s Police Athletic League to participate in the 2012 Olympic Team Trials

Dothan, Al.

The Dothan Police Department is happy to announce five athletes from the Dothan P.A.L. (Police Athletic League) have qualified for the 2012 Olympic Team Trials in Fort Carson, Colorado! 

Dothan P.A.L. (Police Athletic League)

Boxers twill be matched up and begin their bouts on the 28th of February.

This is an advancing tournament, meaning everyday you win you advance to the next day. Athletes who make it to Saturday are in the Championship bout. At the completion of Saturday, winners are the Champion of the 2012 Olympic Trials and earn a spot on the 2012 Olympic Team!!!

 Police Athletic Leagues are nonprofit agencies with community outreach at their core. Police Chief Greg Benton, who helped start the league last June, said the program aims to help youths who “may be sitting on the fence where they choose a life of crime or choose a life that’s fulfilling.”

 “Just the reaction that these kids have towards us now, they are very comfortable around us,” Benton said. “That’s what I’m really looking for, and that’s what I wanted from this program, is to kind of develop a bond between all the athletes here and the people that come to PAL.” He said police need to give back to the community as mentors. In just seven or eight months the program has 50 to 75 kids coming through daily. “It’s nothing like it’s going to be,” Benton said. “We’re just in the infancy stages here. It’s going to get bigger.” 

We applaud these athletes and support their efforts. Additionally, we would like to encourage our community to stand behind this program with donations to assist with travel costs associated with the upcoming trip. Anyone wanting to donate to this worthy cause may mail or drop off checks at the Dothan Police Department. Please make all donations payable to Dothan P.A.L. (Police Athletic League). Thank you in advance for your support and congratulations to these athletes! These boxers are:

1. Luai Barakat

2011 Jr. Olympic Champion

2011 National Title Champion

2011 Alabama Golden Gloves Champion

2. Corey Lampley

2011 Tenn Champion

2nd Place National Title Champion

Note: Corey has a 10-1 record with 8 straight wins in a row.

3. Kenny Smith Junior

2011 National Title Champion

2011 Junior Olympic Runner up

2011 Golden Gloves Champion

4. Darien Troop

Qualified by having over 5 bouts.

5. Jamal Flowers

Qualified by having over 5 bouts.