Alabama – Shoals Insider

MUSCLE SHOALS ARREST MADE IN SATURDAY NIGHT HIT-AND-RUN IN FRONT OF COLBERT DHR

H. Wayne Nix — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 01:52:31 +0000

NEWS ALERT Muscle Shoals Police have made an arrest in the Saturday night hit-and-run that claimed the life of a 25-year-old woman.On Saturday at approximately 7:35 p.m. the Muscle Shoals Police Department was dispatched to a call in reference to a vehicle striking a pedestrian on George Wallace Blvd between Patriots Drive and 6th St. Officers were advised the vehicle in question had left the scene.MSPD Officers arrived on scene and located a female lying on the edge of the roadway with severe trauma to her body. Jamya B Shanes, 25 of Nashville, TN, was pronounced deceased on scene by the Colbert County Coroner’s Office.Witnesses to the event told police they were walking with Shanes when a dark-colored truck struck Shanes and fled the scene. Muscle Shoals Police Officers, with the assistance of the Tuscumbia Police Department, began canvasing the area for a truck matching the description given by witnesses. During the investigation, Officers were able to obtain a better description and a license plate number for a possible vehicle involved. Shortly thereafter, Officers with both agencies arrived at an address in Tuscumbia that was learned during the investigation. At this address, Officers and Detectives located an Explorer Sport Trac with heavy damage to the front passenger side and hood. Detectives also located what appeared to be human hair on the vehicle.Officers made contact with the registered owner of the vehicle and were able to determine the individual who had been driving the vehicle. At that time, Ronald Alfred Fontaine, 74 of Tuscumbia, AL, was taken into custody and transported without incident to the Muscle Shoals Police Department. Fontaine is currently being held pending a Warrant of Arrest for charges related to Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Death. Under Alabama Law, leaving the scene of an accident that has resulted in death is classified as a Class C Felony.The Shoals Insider and What’s Happening Shoals extends our deepest condolences to Ms. Shanes’ family and friends at this time.

DECATUR MAN DIES IN HIT AND RUN

H. Wayne Nix — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 01:45:52 +0000

NEWS ALERT LAWRENCE COUNTY

A single-vehicle crash involving a pedestrian that occurred at approximately 2:40 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, has claimed the life of a Decatur man.

The pedestrian, Matthew Anderson Ryan Kelley, 31, who was lying in the roadway, was fatally injured when he was struck by an unknown vehicle that left the scene of the crash. Kelley was pronounced deceased at the scene by the local Coroner’s office.

The crash occurred on Lawrence County Road 209, approximately 10 miles east of Moulton, in Lawrence County.

State Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate the crash.

FLORENCE MAN ARRESTED FOR AGGRAVATED ANIMAL CRUELTY

Staff — Thu, 09 May 2024 02:50:23 +0000

On Sunday, Florence police officers responded to an animal welfare check at the bridge near the 300 block of Minniehaha Street. A witness stated he heard an animal that sounded like it was in distress.

The complainant witnessed the offender physically abusing a dog. When officers arrived, they located a small white dog deceased in the creek. The witness described the suspect, and Officers began a search of the surrounding area. Officers located Kevin Bruce, 33, nearby.

Bruce was interviewed and subsequently arrested and charged with Aggravated Animal Abuse.

Bruce is being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center on a $2,500 bond.

AUTHORITIES RELEASE IDENTITY OF MAN FOUND DECEASED AT BUDGET INN

Staff — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 15:20:04 +0000

Authorities have released the identity of a man who was found deceased at a Florence motel and is the subject of a death investigation.

Last Saturday, on March 23, 2024, at approximately 10:45 a.m., Florence Police responded to Budget Inn on Florence Boulevard to the report of an unresponsive person.

When officers arrived they found 44-year-old Justin Tidwell deceased on the floor of the room. Detectives responded and processed the scene.

The victim was transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy. The cause of death is still under investigation.

FORMER SHEFFIELD RESIDENT PLEADS GUILTY TO SEXUAL ABUSE

Staff — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 19:32:04 +0000

A former Sheffield resident pleaded guilty Thursday in Colbert County Circuit Court to two sexual abuse charges in exchange for a 24-month prison sentence.

According to court records, John Thomas Sledge, 70, of 385 Jones Road in Russellville, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse in the first and second degrees with the sentence to run concurrently.

The indictment stated Sledge did subject someone less than 12 years of age to sexual contact and the second indictment stated Sledge subjected someone older than 12 years of age to sexual contact.

As part of the plea agreement, the court will recommend to the Alabama Department of Corrections that Sledge be evaluated for the Aged and Infirmed prison in Hamilton, Alabama. Sledge will have a three year suspended sentence upon release from the penitentiary. He began his prison sentence on Thursday.

According to courthouse records, one incident occurred on July 7th of 2022 and the second indictment stated the incident occurred on August 8th of 2016.

Sledge is being held in the Colbert County Jail awaiting transfer to Kilby Correctional Facility for processing.

CLOVERDALE

Staff — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 03:23:28 +0000

MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN WIFE’S DEATH

Authorities have arrested a man in the shooting death of his wife.

On Tuesday, at around 8:00 a.m., Lauderdale County deputies responded to the 4000 block of County Rd 10, north of the Cloverdale community on a welfare check.

Once on scene deputies located a deceased female inside a residence. The female had died of an apparent gunshot wound. This according to Lauderdale County Sheriff Joe Hamilton.

During the investigation probable cause was established to charge William Cornelius Chapin II, 63, of Florence, with Murder.

Chapin is currently at the Lauderdale County Detention Center under no bond. This is customary under Aniah’s Law which allows violent offenders to be held without bail.

The victim is identified as Debra Annette Chapin, 59, of Florence. Her body has been transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Huntsville for an autopsy.

“This is an ongoing investigation,” said Sheriff Hamilton.

TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO THREE ARREST

Staff — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 18:05:35 +0000

Authorities arrested three people after finding a cache of contraband during a traffic stop.

At approximately 3:43 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, a pursuit occurred involving Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division. The pursuit began on Alabama 24 near the 31 mile marker, in Franklin County, after a State Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a Cadillac Escalade for speeding. The driver of the Cadillac fled during the traffic stop and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit ended on Alabama 24 near Alabama 157, in Lawrence County, with assistance from Moulton Police Department and Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department. The driver was taken into custody without incident.
Upon search of the vehicle, $50,000 in U.S. Currency, 12.5 pounds of marijuana, 121 dosage units of Liquid THC, 3 handguns, and 1 rifle was seized by Special Agents with ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigations (SBI).

The driver, John Borelli, 29, of Chesterfield, Mich. was arrested, transported to the Lawrence County Detention Center, and charged with Drug Trafficking, Felony Eluding, Possession of Firearm with Altered Serial Number, Receiving Stolen Property 2nd, Reckless Driving, and Speeding. The passengers, Darius Braden, 28, of Detroit, Mich. and Cor’tae Davidson, 20, of Rochester, Minn., were arrested, transported to the Lawrence County Detention Center, and charged with Drug Trafficking.

A MO BROOKS STORY

Staff — Tue, 03 May 2022 06:08:48 +0000

Alabama’s leading Political Columnist Steve Flowers

Over the years I have shared a lot of stories about Alabama’s colorful political figures. We have had some characters like Big Jim Folsom and George Wallace. Big Jim was gregarious and fun loving. Wallace was a political genius and without question the most prolific politician in Alabama history. Both Wallace and Folsom used theatrics to get elected governor, but both were effective once elected to office.

Ole Mo Brooks will make the history books as a colorful Alabama political character. However, unlike Wallace and Folsom, Mo will never be considered effective or important but Mo Brooks is no fool. He knows what he is doing. He is a graduate of Duke and Alabama Law School. He has always been a right-wing ideologue. He truly believes in less government even if that means cutting your district’s or state’s throat. He does not want to be an effective emissary for his people. He is proud of the title of being the least effective congressman in Alabama history. He believes his role is to be the most conservative person in the halls of the Capitol.

Mo and I were freshman legislators together in 1982. Mo served one four-year term in the Alabama House and left in 1986. He was immediately recognized as a right-wing nut, who was driven by an ideological agenda rather than being an effective legislator for his constituents. He was laughed at and ridiculed by the entire House and placed on the back row by the Speaker. They would recognize him, occasionally, his first year to make a reactionary speech on an issue. However, after a while, the Speaker would not recognize him to talk. Prior to that, if we had a bill we wanted to pass and we knew Mo might be for it, we would quietly go back to Mo’s desk in the far-right corner and say, “Mo, I would like for you to vote for my bill. However, please do not speak for it.” We knew his speaking for it would be detrimental to the bill’s passage.

Having been relegated to not having any power, which he preferred, he decided to become the Czar of conservatism in the House. He made himself the appointed keeper of all the House members voting records and would rank us on our conservatism based on how we voted on legislative issues. Mo got a computer, which was a rare device in those days, and sat at his desk keeping track of our daily voting record and ranking us. You can imagine how that upset some of the old crusty legislators, some of whom had been around since the early George Wallace segregationist days. They figured that the word conservative meant voting against Civil Rights and integration. I was one of the few who would visit with Mo. I would go back to his desk and ask how he was doing with his list. Some of the old timers would ask me what Mo and I talked about. You can only imagine the indignation they had towards the young nut from north Alabama when I told them he was keeping their voting record and ranking them on their conservatism.

Ole Mo moved on to the Madison County Commission for a decade or so. They say that every vote during that time was five yes and one no. Guess who the “no” vote was.

He has continued that same consistency of longing to be a loud voice in the wilderness of ineffectiveness during his 11 years in Congress.
Recently a respected fellow member of our 1982 Freshman Legislative Class and I were visiting and the subject of Mo’s race for the Senate came up. He said, “You know, I have never known anyone besides Mo Brooks who has served nearly two decades in a legislative-congressional capacity and never passed a bill nor ever accomplished anything.”

However, my 1982 colleague and I were from the old school that believed you should look after your district first. My perception of today’s Republican primary voters is that there are a good many who prefer a total less government conservative senator. If you are looking for a true long term proven conservative, then Mo Brooks is your man.

See you next week.

Alabama’s premier columnist and commentator, Steve has analyzed Alabama politics for national television audiences on CBS, PBS, ABC and the British Broadcasting Network. Steve has been an up close participant and observer of the Alabama political scene for more than 50 years and is generally considered the ultimate authority on Alabama politics and Alabama political history.

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Staff — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 15:10:43 +0000

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Lexington man gets 2 years in work release for deadly ATV crash

Staff — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 22:48:48 +0000

FLORENCE — A Lexington man who drove an all-terrain vehicle involved in a deadly crash in 2017 will serve two years in the Lauderdale County Work Release program.

Ryan Tolliver Johnson, 21, received the sentence Wednesday after pleading guilty in January to criminally negligent homicide.
On Sept. 16, 2017, Johnson crashed an ATV, killing Jackson Samuel Newton, 20, and injuring Brooklyn Thompson, 20, officials said. The incident occurred at Lauderdale 86 and Lauderdale 97 in Rogersville.
Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly said the wreck occurred at approximately 3 a.m., and they measured Johnson’s blood alcohol level several hours later. It was .14 percent. The legal limit is .08 percent.
Johnson was indicted on charges of manslaughter and first-degree assault before issuing the plea.
The sentence from Self means Johnson will avoid prison but still be incarcerated in the county jail, where he will return from work each day.
During an emotional hearing Tuesday, Johnson turned to the victim’s family and apologized and said he takes responsibility for what happened.