2-4-16 News

2-4-16

Dekalb drug arrest

A pair of burglary suspects in DeKalb County were arrested Tuesday thanks to a concerned citizen's call to the sheriff's office.  According to a release, the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a possible burglary at a residence on County Road 179 in Crossville's Painter community. Upon arriving, they discovered a break-in had occurred. A witness at the scene told deputies that they saw a man and woman carrying property of the residence and taking it to a home next door.Authorities later executed a search warrant at the neighboring home and found man and woman inside, as well as the property allegedly stolen from next door and two one-post meth labs. The suspects -- who were later identified as 33-year-old Benjamin Jay McClain and 31-year-old Jami Nicole Spain -- were arrested and each charged with burglary, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance. They both also face a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

2-4-16

Leesburg man charged with Georgia robberies

A Leesburg man is in jail in Georgia along with another man in connection with a string of armed robberies in four counties.  The Chattooga County (Ga.) Sheriff's Office announced that 26 year old Jake Lee Skuse,  of Leesburg, has been charged with armed robbery, methamphetamine possession and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Also facing charges is 42 year old James Tyrone Carmichael,  of Rome, Ga., on two counts of armed robbery, along with meth possession and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. More charges are likely.

2-4-16

Piedmont gas tax

The Piedmont City Council decided for a second time Tuesday that there will be no gas tax increase in the city..

Councilman Frank Cobb has for months asked other council members to consider imposing a two-cent tax increase on fuel pumped at Piedmont stations to help pay for road paving in the city.

2-4-16

Talladega shootings

The Talladega County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting that wounded two people in the Grassmere community Monday night. The incident took place around 10:30 p.m. on Sunrise Circle in Alpine, but deputies were never called to the scene.Both of the injured parties were adult males. One was transported by personal vehicle to the emergency room of Citizens Baptist Medical Center in Talladega, and was then transferred to University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital. This person would have been airlifted, but the LifeSaver helicopter was not available. The other injured party was also put into a private vehicle and driven over Logan Martin Dam, where he was met by an ambulance that took him to UAB.  Investigators were notified by hospital staff that the shooting had taken place. Investigators were able to locate what they believe to be the crime scene hours after the shooting occurred. A handful of witnesses have been interviewed, but most of them do not seem to have first-hand knowledge of what actually happened.

Anyone with any information about this incident should contact the Talladega County Sheriff’s Office at 256-761-2141.

2-4-16

Lindsey hearing

Attorneys for Stephon Lindsay argued Tuesday that a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Florida’s capital sentencing process is unconstitutional means Alabama’s capital statute also is unconstitutional, so the death penalty should be off the table in the Gadsden man’s upcoming trial.  Lindsay is charged in the 2013 murder of his daughter, 20-month-old Maliyah Lindsay.  The girl’s body was found March 12, 2013, in a wooded area at the corner of Plainview Street and Block Avenue. She had been reported missing a day earlier by her mother, Tasmine Thomas. Court documents indicate the child was killed with a hatchet or sword-like blade. At the time of her slaying, family members said it was a ritualistic killing.  Lindsay’s trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 22. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, and has undergone a second mental evaluation. A portion of the doctor’s opinion from that evaluation has been submitted to the court under seal; attorneys are awaiting the rest of the opinion.  In the ruling in Hurst vs. Florida, “the Court held that the Sixth Amendment requires a jury, not a judge, to find each element necessary to impose the death sentence.”

2-4-16

Piedmont man detained

A Piedmont man was detained Saturday  after allegedly shoplifting at Wal-Mart in East Gadsden. But when police arrived, he provided false information about who he was.  There was an outstanding unrelated drug charge against the man whose name he gave, so he ended up going to jail anyway and was booked under the incorrect name on the wrong charge.  According to a Gadsden police report, the man whose name was falsely given alerted the Etowah County Detention Center of the discrepancy. An Etowah County Drug Task Force agent notified Gadsden police, but by that time the 33-year-old Piedmont man had been released. He faces a potential felony charge for giving false information.

2-4-16

Childersburg tower

The Childersburg City Council responded Tuesday night to Norfolk Southern Railroad’s proposal to build a 170-foot tower downtown.

The council, in an effort to preserve the historical character of Childersburg and the downtown area, agreed to send a letter to the company requesting it consider another location The proposed location for the tower is at the intersection of Alabama Highway 76 and Bates Addition.

Norfolk is proposing to install a self-supporting lattice railroad communication tower, according to a letter sent to the Childersburg Historic Preservation Commission. It will be placed within the right-of-way of Norfolk Southern.

The letter said the proposed tower will serve as a base station for the federally mandated Positive Train Control (PTC) system. The PTC system is mandated by the U.S. Congress to enhance train safety and is being implemented by all Class 1 railways in the United States.

Mayor James Payne and Council members Ralph Rich and Billy Lester said they hoped the railway would look for another site, but none expressed any confidence the site will change.

2-4-16

St clair amendment

A constitutional amendment that would allow the St. Clair County Commission to amend court costs by local legislation will be on the March 1 election ballot.

County attorney James Hill III said the proceeds could be used for expenses within the county.

Hill said“About two-thirds of all the counties in the state have that ability, and it is important that we do as well, and is an opportunity for st. clair county to have the same benefits and options that other counties have right now.”

Hill said there is a piece of legislation that has been passed that would allow a $30 court cost to be collected from defendants who use the county jails.