Public records
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on June 11, 2004 1:59 PM
Cab driver robbed
A Goldsboro taxi driver was robbed Thursday night of about $255 in Pleasant Acres Mobile Home Park, according to a Wayne County Sheriff's Office report.
Benny Lee Ford of Dudley told deputies that he picked up two teen-agers at about 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Mall after they said their car had broken down.
After driving around for a while, Ford was ordered to stop behind a vacant trailer on North Running Deer Circle, the report said. One suspect put what Ford believed was a handgun to the driver's neck and demanded his money, police said. Ford complied, and the suspects fled.
Both suspects were described as being about 16 or 17 years old and 5-feet-6. The gunman had short black hair and brown eyes, and he wore a white T-shirt and blue jeans. The other suspect had a light complexion and wore a white T-shirt, blue jeans and a black stocking cap.
Anyone with information on this robbery was asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 731-1481 or Goldsboro-Wayne County Crime Stoppers at 735-2255. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.
Three charged
A guest at the Wayne Motel was assaulted and robbed Thursday of $75, and a suspect was arrested later by Goldsboro police and charged with the crimes.
Robert Callahan, 30, of Ellenboro told police that a black man had kicked his room door open at about 1:30 p.m., brandished a knife, cut and bit him during a struggle, robbed him of his wallet and fled.
Callahan was treated by rescue personnel for his injuries.
James Kevin Jones, 41, of Higgins Street was arrested later by police and identified by Callahan as the suspect.
Jones was charged with three felony offenses, armed robbery, breaking and entering and assault with a deadly weapon, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed in the Wayne County Jail in lieu of a $15,000 secured bond.
Scam warning
Wayne County Sheriff Carey Winders says his office had received a large number of complaints about people going door to door, approaching people outside of businesses and asking for money.
The suspects use stories, the sheriff says, about needing money for medicine for a sick relative, repairs to their vehicle, food for their children or bus fare back home.
"Usually, these people will ask for an odd amount of money, $7 or $13, in hopes of receiving $10 or $15," Winders said today.
Winders says that if anyone is approached with this or any other type of scam, he or she should not give any money and should call 911 to report the matter.
Drug charges
Two people were arrested Thursday by the Goldsboro-Wayne Drug Squad and charged with three felony drug violations.
Jose Manuel Peredia, 28, and Manta Carreno, 42, both of Zion Church Road, Mount Olive, were charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of keeping and selling drugs and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Each was placed in the Wayne County Jail in lieu of a $25,000 secured bond.
Four charged
Four men were arrested Thursday by the Goldsboro-Wayne County Drug Squad and charged with attempting to solicit a woman for prostitution.
Nathaniel Black Jr., 33, of Farmville; Barry Lamont Dunn, 38, of Lime Street; Donnell Joyner, 50, of North George Street, and Clarence Brian Wells, 28, of Teachey were placed in the Wayne County Jail in lieu of $500 secured bonds.
The four were accused of trying to hire an undercover police officer for sex.
Store break-in
A thirsty thief stole 26 packs of beer and four 40-ounce cans of beer along with six packs of cigars and three cartons of cigarettes between Thursday night and dawn today from a convenience store, a Goldsboro police report said.
When the clerk opened the Spur Station No. 4 at 301 W. Grantham St., she discovered that the thief had smashed a door glass and stole an estimated $225 worth of beer, $112 worth of cigars and $85 worth of cigarettes. No damage estimate was listed.
Wayne County law-enforcement officers also are investigating these reports:
*A 100-pound gray safe with two handguns and jewelry was stolen Thursday from a home in the 1300 block of O'Berry Road, sheriff's deputies said. The thief had smashed a door to get inside. The resident, James Harold Mabe, estimated the value of his property at $544 and damage at $375.
*Barbering equipment and a black leather bag were stolen between Monday and Thursday after a car door was pried open in the 300 block of Miller Avenue, police said. The owner and resident, Tharoy Davis, put a $472 value on his property.
*A disabled, red 1995 Suzuki motorcycle was stolen between Tuesday and Thursday from the 3200 block of East Ash Street, police said. The owner, Geraldo Morales of Mount Olive, said the bike was worth $2,500.
Three hurt in wrecks
Three people were injured and damages were estimated at $41,800 in four recent traffic collisions in Wayne County, officers reported.
*Two people were injured and both cars were demolished in a collision at 1:16 p.m. Thursday at Olivia Lane and Slaughter Street, Goldsboro police said. One driver, Frances Smith Best, 46, of Eastern Wayne Road, and one of her passengers, Clara Smith, 45, of Poplar Street, were treated and released from Wayne Memorial Hospital. A northbound driver, Royal Ray Dawson, 48, of Daffodil Drive, Dudley, was charged with a yield violation. Ms. Best, who was going east, also was charged with not having an operator's license. Damages were set at $4,500.
*Damages were estimated at $7,000 in a two-vehicle crash at 5:18 p.m. Wednesday at U.S. 70 West and Maryland Street, police said. One motorist, Linda E. Vonhaugg, 38, of Heritage Road, Pikeville, was charged with a yield violation. Police said she was crossing the four-lane, divided highway and her sport utility vehicle collided with a westbound auto driven by Linda H. Morris, 55, of Fields Road, Pikeville.
*A sport utility vehicle was demolished in a wreck at 5 a.m. Thursday on Kelly Springs Road, south of N.C. 55, the Highway Patrol said. The SUV ran off the left side in a curve, came back on the road, ran off the right side, struck a ditch and overturned. The driver fled. The SUV, valued at $8,000, was registered to Nathan Jesse Trent of Forehand Road, Pikeville.
*A driver was injured and damages were estimated at $22,300 in a two-car collision at 10:45 p.m. Wednesday on Old Smithfield Road near N.C. 581, the Highway Patrol said. Daniel Earl Gooding, 22, of Ava Street was released after emergency-room treatment. He was charged with suspicion of driving while impaired. The car that Gooding was driving ran off the right side, struck a driveway culvert, a power pole and a parked car, registered to Charles H. Johnson of Woodcock Drive.
Missing
Two people have been reported missing to Wayne County authorities.
Tina Condon
*Tina Marie Condon, 44, of 2123 Rosewood Road was reported missing Monday to the Sheriff's Office. She was described as white, 5-feet-7 and 120 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair. No clothing description was available.
*Thomasina Nicole Bunch, 15, of 1406 Edgerton St. was reported missing today to Goldsboro police. She was described as black, 5-feet-7 and 210 pounds with black hair, brown eyes and a medium complexion. When she was seen last at 1 a.m. today, she was wearing a white T-shirt, beige sweatpants and black shoes.
Anyone with information on the location of either person was asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 731-1481 or Goldsboro police at 705-6572.