Gadsden Police arrest man who confesses to statewide thefts

Gadsden police say a local shoplifting case turned into the arrest of a Jasper man suspected in stealing from Academy Sports and Outdoors stores throughout Alabama.  Gadsden police arrested 40 year old William Earl Barnes III,  Nov. 24 for second-degree theft of property. After questioning, Barnes admitted to stealing game cameras and other merchandise from Academy stores in Gadsden, Hoover, Prattville, Tuscaloosa, Inverness, Auburn, Huntsville and Decatur.  Investigators said Barnes would steal the cameras from the various stores by placing them in a pair of pants he tied off at the bottom. He would take them into a dressing room, then remove the cameras’ packages and stealing them by hiding them on his person as he left.  Barnes allegedly stole five cameras from the Gadsden store, but Academy told police that Barnes was suspected of taking 111 game cameras worth more than $22,000.  The investigation led Thompson to Quality Collectibles in Jasper, where the owner immediately told him he knew why they were there and led them to the back where boxes of merchandise were recovered that allegedly had been stolen by Barnes from Academy stores around Alabama and purchased by the Jasper store.  More than 400 items, including game cameras, tungsten lures, memory cards, rods, reels and fishing hooks, were recovered from Quality Collectibles. the items were worth $10,939.47.

Man charged with impersonating officer

Robert Thomas Blackwell Jr.

Anniston police have charged a man with felony charges of attempting to pass himself off as a police officer.  31 year old Robert Thomas Blackwell Jr. has been charged with a felony charge of impersonating a peace officer. An Anniston police lt. observed Blackwell walking down Wilmer Avenue with an Anniston police badge on his belt. The lieutenant didn’t recognize Blackwell, so he stopped his vehicle and went to go talk to him. The badge Blackwell had on him was not an official Anniston police badge, but rather a small replica badge officers usually wear on their jackets. He said that when Blackwell told the lieutenant he was employed with the Police Department, the lieutenant knew he was lying and arrested him. Blackwell resisted arrest by refusing to give the lieutenant his hands. Blackwell had a pair of handcuffs on him at the time of his arrest, but he was not armed.

Cherokee County Authorities searching for missing man

Oscar Lewis King

Authorities and family are searching for a man missing from Cherokee County.  72 year old Oscar Lewis King,  was reported missing Dec. 2. According to family, he has dementia. He was last seen driving a blue 2011 Dodge Dakota truck.  King is described as a white male, 195 pounds with white hair.  Anyone who has information on King's whereabouts is asked to call the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office investigator Brent Snead at 256-927-3365.

Talladega County Drug Arrest

A 43 year old Lincoln man is being held on more than $2 million bond in the Talladega County Jail after being arrested on multiple drug charges.  Jeffrey Carmichael, was arrested Tuesday morning for 16 counts of distribution of a controlled substance, one count of trafficking in cocaine, one count of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of marijuana in the first degree. Bond was set by Circuit Judge Julian King at $100,000 for each of the distribution cases and $500,000 for the trafficking case. Authorities say that Tuesday’s arrest came following a three to four month long investigation. A warrant had been obtained for the garage and outbuildings on Second Ave. in Lincoln, where Carmichael told investigators he lived.  Carmichael was arrested early Tuesday morning after he dropped his children off at school. All but one of the distribution cases involves crack cocaine. The remaining case involved the sale of marijuana. The possession case involved some amphetamine pills.

Anniston charged after spraying woman and 22 month old boy with pepper spray

Anniston Police have charged a 21 year old Anniston woman with two felony charges after she allegedly attacked a woman and her son with pepper spray.  Tiffanyella Michelle Johnson, has been charged with first-degree burglary and criminal use of a defensive spray.  Police say the incident occurred on the afternoon of Nov. 26, Johnson visited the 21-year-old victim, an acquaintance, at her home on Cave Road.  When Johnson arrived, she caused a disturbance over a jacket through the victim’s locked storm door. During the argument, the victim’s 22-month-old son walked up behind her and the victim knocked something over.  When the victim bent over to pick up the item she knocked over, Johnson opened the storm door, stuck her hand inside and sprayed the victim and the victim’s son with pepper spray.  Johnson walked to her car and left the scene before officers arrived. Both victims suffered from red, irritated faces but required no medical attention.

Johnson has been released on a  $35,000 bond.

Piedmont seeks Sunday alcohol sales

The city of Piedmont is hoping to become the third city in Calhoun county to allow Sunday alcohol sales.  Piedmont’s City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday in favor of a resolution asking the Alabama Legislature to support a law allowing Sunday alcohol sales in Piedmont.  The Legislature earlier this year approved measures allowing city councils in Anniston and Weaver to permit Sunday alcohol sales.

The measure for Piedmont must be approved by both houses of the Legislature and be signed by the governor before it becomes law. In practice, the measure must get the support of the county’s local delegation in the Legislature, as well. If it gets local support, the full chambers are likely to approve it as well. Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, the Senate’s president pro tempore, supported the bills for Weaver and Anniston. Marsh said he hasn’t seen Piedmont’s bill, but will support it if it is similar to the Anniston and Weaver bills. Rep. K.L. Brown, R-Jacksonville, said he also would support the bill if it is similar to the Weaver and Anniston bills.

Rep. Randy Wood, R-Saks, did not support the Sunday sales bills earlier this year. He said he would also oppose legislation to permit Sunday sales in Piedmont.