Public records
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on January 29, 2004 2:01 PM
Ice foils thief
in auto larceny
The ice that slowed down drivers for the last three days in Wayne County also foiled an auto theft Wednesday morning.
A man started his car to warm it up and went back inside his home in the 500 block of Ditchbank Road, according to a Wayne County sheriff's report.
Then another man jumped in his 1994 Pontiac Firebird and tried to back it from the yard, but the car became stuck in the ice, deputies said. The suspect then left the car and ran into nearby woods.
Law authorities were called, and Deputy Randy Thompson and his search dog, Linda, tracked the man and arrested him. Jamaal Lebre Davis, 27, of Forsyth Street was charged with felony larceny of a vehicle. He was placed in the Wayne County Jail in lieu of a $3,000 secured bond.
Crime of the Week
An armed robbery at Hill's Beef and Pork Center at 2315 N. William St. has been chosen by Goldsboro-Wayne County Crime Stoppers as its latest "Crime of the Week."
A man entered the store at about 8:40 a.m. Jan. 22, displayed a handgun, pushed the woman clerk to the floor and grabbed the cash register. He jumped in a red, extended-cab pickup and fled west on Fedelon Trail. The robber was described as being white, 6-feet with brown hair, and he wore blue jeans, a blue shirt and a dark jacket with a hood.
Anyone with information on this armed robbery or any other crime in Wayne County was asked to call Crime Stoppers at 735-2255. Callers may remain anonymous, and they may be eligible for cash rewards of up to $1,000, if their information leads to arrests in felony cases.
Four hurt in wrecks
Four people were injured and damages were estimated at $28,800 in six recent traffic collisions in Wayne County, officers reported.
*Damages were estimated at $5,000 in a two-car collision at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in a driveway in the 4400 block of U.S. 13 North, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said. A car driven by James Walker Smith, 63, of U.S. 13 North, collided with a parked car, owned by Gloria S. Sauls of U.S. 13 North. No charges have been filed.
*A westbound driver was injured in a one-vehicle wreck at about 5 p.m. Monday on N.C. 55 near Suttontown Road, the Highway Patrol said. The unidentified driver lost control of his truck, and it ran off the left side, crossed a ditch and stopped near woods, troopers said. The truck was registered to Wayne Melvin Presley of Fayetteville, troopers said. A full report on the wreck has not been completed.
*A driver escaped injury at 2:20 p.m. Saturday when his pickup collided with a train on Thoroughfare Road, the Highway Patrol said. But Craig Allen Murphy, 57, of Ann Street was charged with failure to stop at a railroad crossing with the signal operating. His pickup sustained an estimated $7,000 in damages. The Norfolk Southern train, which was not damaged, was operated by Darius C. Clark, 30, of Charlotte.
*Three people were injured and damages were estimated at $6,000 in a two-vehicle collision at 4:20 p.m. Saturday at N.C. 111 and N.C. 581 (Bill Lane Boulevard), the Highway Patrol said. One driver, Ashlen Danielle Quick, 17, of Red Hawk Trail, Seven Springs, was listed today in stable condition at Wayne Memorial Hospital, a spokeswoman said. Her passenger, Russell Smith, 18, of Garris Chapel Road, LaGrange, was transferred to Pitt County Memorial Hospital, where he was listed today in serious condition, a spokeswoman said. The other driver, Cammie Davis Green, 38, of Nor-Am Road, Pikeville, was treated and released from Wayne Memorial Hospital. No charges have been filed, but the collision remains under investigation.
*A driver from Seven Springs was injured and damages were estimated at $5,000 in a two-vehicle crash at 6:20 p.m. Friday on N.C. 55 near Oak Street, the Highway Patrol said. Donald D. Fulghum, 42, of Simmons Street, Seven Springs, was released after emergency-room treatment. The other motorist, Joshua David Lanier, 23, of N.C. 55 East, Seven Springs, was charged with failure to reduce speed after the rear-end wreck.
*Damages were set at $5,800 in a two-car collision at 4 p.m. Friday at U.S. 13 and Hood Swamp Road, the Highway Patrol said. One driver, Milford Edward Jones, 72, of North Berkeley Boulevard, was charged with a yield violation. The northbound driver was identified as Alice Faye Bunn, 37, of Marl Place, Pikeville.
Investigations
Wayne County law-enforcement officers are investigating these reports:
*Jewelry, prescription medicine, a television and a radio, cassette and compact disc player combination were stolen between Tuesday and Wednesday after doors were damaged at a home in the 1200 block of Stoney Creek Church Road, sheriff's deputies said. The jewelry included three rings and two pairs of earrings. The resident, N.L. Jordan, estimated the property's value at $2,070 and damage at $100.
*A tow dolly was stolen between Saturday and Wednesday from the parking lot at AJL Mini-Storage at 3455 U.S. 117 North, deputies said. The tow dolly was valued at $1,000.
*Three dryers were stolen between Jan. 14 and Wednesday after a padlock was removed from a unit at Little River Mini-Storage at 166 Claridge Nursery Road, deputies said. The dryers were valued at $900.
*An electric heater was stolen Wednesday after a door was damaged at a storage building in the 200 block of Brazil Street, Goldsboro police said. The owner and resident, Laurue M. Jones, said the heater was worth $20 and set damage at $50.
Missing
An 11-year-old Goldsboro girl was reported missing Wednesday night by her mother to Goldsboro police. Michelle Diana Zapata of 516 Green Drive was described as Hispanic, 5-feet-2 and 120 bounds with black hair, brown eyes and a medium complexion.
When she was seen last at 8 p.m. Wednesday, she was wearing a red shirt, blue jeans and white shoes. Anyone with information on her location was asked to call police at 736-4933.
Correction
The body of an 88-year-old woman who was reported missing Tuesday was found by Wayne County sheriff's deputies near her home that same day. The News-Argus had reported Jan. 21 that Adell W. Garris of 176 Conover Lane was reported missing Monday and was found by relatives. She was reported missing by relatives.