Public records
By Other
Published in News on January 19, 2005 2:14 PM
Motel fire
deemed
suspicious
A suspicious, predawn fire caused about $21,000 in damages today to a room at the Knights Inn, the former Ramada Inn, at 802 W. Grantham St., a Goldsboro fire official said.
Assistant Fire Chief Ray Boyette said he referred a further investigation of the fire to police.
"When we got there, flames were coming from a window," Boyette said. "The gate was locked, and we had to force entry to get inside. The guys did an excellent job in coming in from the front and the back. They made an aggressive attack to knock down the fire before it spread other rooms."
Other nearby rooms sustained only smoke damage, Boyette said. But an outside railing was scorched and a window in the next room also was damaged.
Damage was estimated at $13,000 to room 155 and $8,000 to the contents. The room was being used to store mattresses.
No one was staying in the motel, officials said. The bottom floor was being renovated so that the motel could be reopened later this year, according to a recent advertisement.
Fourteen firefighters answered the 1:35 a.m. call with three engines, a ladder truck and a command car. They remained for two hours to put out the fire, investigate the cause and finish salvage work.
The 32-room wing was valued at $416,000, and contents were valued at $132,000, Boyette said.
The owner, Mohammed Darr, lives in New York. A local manager lived at the motel, the assistant chief said.
Wanted
Futrell
A teen-ager from Dudley is wanted by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office on three felony charges -- second-degree burglary, breaking and entering and larceny.
Shawnquel Cammora Futrell, 17, was described as black with black hair and brown eyes. Sheriff's detectives say he should be considered armed and dangerous. He may be near Durham Lake Road or Pleasant Acres Mobile Home Park.
Anyone with information on Futrell's location was asked to call Detective Sgt. Rick Farfour at 731-1497 or 731-1480 or Goldsboro-Wayne County Crime Stoppers at 735-2255. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.
Accidents
Two drivers were injured and damages were estimated at $23,000 in three recent traffic collisions in Wayne County, the Highway Patrol reported.
*A driver from Goldsboro was injured in a one-car wreck at 8:02 a.m. Friday on U.S. 70 near Whitley Church Road, the Highway Patrol said. Kesha Best Johnson, 33, of Grove Road was treated and released from Wayne Memorial Hospital, a spokeswoman said. She was charged with exceeding a safe speed after her car hydroplaned on the wet road, skidded off the right side and struck the ditch. Damage was set at $1,500.
*A car was demolished in a wreck at 2:10 a.m. Thursday on U.S. 13 near West Hill Street, the Highway Patrol said. The driver fled after the car ran off the left side and struck a power pole. The car, valued at $18,000, was registered to Marvin Spence Best of East Wayne Road, troopers said.
*A driver from Clayton was injured in a one-car crash at 6:30 p.m. Thursday on N.C. 222 near Union Grove Church Road, the Highway Patrol said. Troy Avery Lee III, 17, was released after emergency-room treatment. The report said a tire blew out, causing Lee to lose control of the car, and it ran off the right side, struck a road sign, careened back across the road, struck the left ditch and overturned. No charges were filed. Damages were put at $3,500.
Investigations
Goldsboro police are investigating these reports:
*Clothing, prescription medicine, a video camera, baby formula and an overnight bag were stolen Tuesday from a mobile home in Tanglewood Trailer Park in the 3200 block of Central Heights Road, police said. The resident, E.A. Gurganus, put a $5,051 value on the stolen property. No sign of forced entry was listed.
*A television and a keyboard were stolen between Monday and Tuesday after a window was smashed at a home in the 100 block of Head Street, police said. The resident, Douglas Weaver, estimated the value of the stolen property at $1,100 and damage at $50.
Missing
A 15-year-old girl has been reported missing by relatives to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Sequia Darneisha Usher of 105 Angie Drive was described as black, 5-feet-5 and 125 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes and a scar on her chin.
She was seen last at 12:05 a.m. today. No clothing description was available. Anyone with information on her location was asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 731-1481.