From STAFF REPORTS



CORDELE — Three teen-agers have been arrested on burglary charges in connection with a recent break-in at a Greer Street location.

Sgt. Jeremy Taylor said he has charged Michael Fredrick Gamble, 17, of 127 Justice Road in Vienna, Devalston Markee’ Dawson, 18, of 1303 11th St. N., and Kenneth Lynnorris Lester Jr., 17, of 1202 Second St. N. with that crime.

Five other burglaries were reported to city police during the weekend and one of them was quickly solved by the investigating officer.

Patrolman Chris Forsythe was dispatched to T&T; Outdoors at 215 24th Ave. E. when the owner discovered someone had stolen a 2006 Yamaha Raptor and a Honda CR 125 dirt bike.

The officer and the vehicle owner followed tracks leading from the area and located the larger vehicle about 500 feet away with a broken axle. A further check of the area led to recovery of the dirt bike hidden underneath some boxes in a dumpster. The recovered property was valued at $5,500.

The remaining burglary victims weren’t as fortunate, including one who resided in the 500 block of 18th Ave. W. A toolbox valued at $100 and a DVD/VCR tape player combination worth $150 were stolen as were several pictures removed from walls.

In addition, said officer Chris Forsythe, three bedroom suites had been taken apart in preparation to remove them from the premises at a later date.

Another burglary occurred at a South Pecan Street apartment complex where entry was gained through a rear window. The victim told Sgt. Taylor that $400 had been removed from her hope chest.

An apparent attempted burglary occurred just before 6 a.m. Sunday at Action Pawn where Cpl. Jesse Barfield said that upon responding to an alarm call he found the front right glass entrance door smashed but the door, itself, still locked. An employee called to the scene said entry was never made and nothing was amiss.

A Cloverdale Circle resident told Sgt. Robert Montgomery that upon returning home Sunday from an out-of-town trip she discovered her house had been entered through a south window. Missing from it were a DVD player, three rings, a digital camera and an undisclosed amount of currency.

Sgt. Taylor was dispatched to a 13th Ave. E. apartment complex Sunday night when a resident reported hearing what sounded like someone kicking in the front door of her neighbor’s unit.

Taylor and Sgt. Green discovered the back door had been forced open and upon entering the apartment said they found it to be empty and relatively undisturbed.

The officers made several futile attempts to contact the occupant of the apartment and secured it as best they could when they left the scene.

Considered at that point to be a case of criminal damage, officers learned in a telephone call about 30 minutes later that the apartment had indeed been burglarized.

In other recent activity, officers:

— Investigated five theft complaints.

Lt. Louis New said the owner of a vehicle left overnight Friday at Los Compadres on 16th Ave. E. told him a 150-quarter cooler valued at $100 and two trailer hitches worth another $150 were taken from it.

A resident of the 600 block of 15th Ave. E. told Sgt. Robert Montgomery on Sunday that someone stole six rolls of pennies and a radiator leak pump from his 1997 Dodge truck.

Employees of Verizon Wireless told Sgt. Charles Pheil a subject they identified left with a store phone despite repeated requests that it be returned. Subsequently charged with theft by taking was Will Slappy Howell, 18, of 270 Drayton Loop, Vienna.

An 18th Ave. E. resident told Pvt. Erica Cromer someone had stolen approximately 50-60 pounds of aluminum cans from her back yard.

A resident of the 500 block of South First St. told Sgt. Charles Dennard someone had taken his orange BMX Thruster bicycle.

— Recovered a bicycle that had been reported stolen earlier from a residence in the 600 block of 23rd Ave. E.

The bike owner called police just before 2:30 p.m. Friday to report finding it in the 400 block of 23rd Ave. W. where several individuals were standing around it. None of them claimed ownership. No charges were filed.

— Arrested Nicholus Fields on an outstanding warrant for Sumter County. Sgt. Montgomery made contact with him when dispatched to 301 24th Ave. W. to investigate a Friday afternoon disturbance.

— Received a vandalism complaint from the owner of Collision Clinic who told Forsythe that someone busted out the back passenger window of a 1988 Chevrolet 3500 truck.

The culprit also spray-painted vulgarity, several other letters and the number 24 on the vehicle. Damage was estimated at $3,000.

— Filed a request that a battery (family violence) warrant be issued for Edward Napper for “vicious assault” upon a woman with whom he used to live.

Sgt. Robert Montgomery said he found victim bleeding profusely from a eye-area injury reportedly suffered when she was struck with a cell phone wielded by the suspect.

— Looked into a financial transaction card fraud report made by Union Compress employees who told Cpl. Bruce Gourley one of their fuel cards had been used to make unauthorized purchases totaling $109.81.

The worker to whom the card had been issued said he had left the card in the truck he was assigned to and that he had locked the vehicle. When the vehicle was checked, however, it was unlocked. The employee turned in his keys.

— Made two shoplifting arrests after being called to Walgreen’s when one of the violators triggered an alarm while leaving the store.

Cited were N’kedra Everett, 18, of 503-B 23rd Ave. W., and a 13-year-old boy.