From STAFF REPORTS
CORDELE — City police officers have charged a Crisp County man with aggravated stalking after he allegedly made contact with a woman he had been told to avoid.
Sgt. Robert Montgomery said James Edward Cox, 38, of 3163 Hwy. 90, Arabi, is accused of approaching the victim inside Wal-Mart and taking her child out of a buggy.
The woman said that when she motioned for him to put the child back in the buggy he said it was his child, too. At that point, she began dialing 911 on her cell phone with him encouraging her to do so. She said he stood there for a moment before walking out and driving off in a white pickup truck.
The complainant told the officer he had been charged in September for stalking her and was out on bond. Her hands shaking frantically as she talked to Sgt. Montgomery, she said she was afraid because she didn’t know what Cox might do.
Meanwhile, Det. Ketorie Sales and Sgt. Charles Dennard, who were also responding to the call, stopped the vehicle they said contained a loaded .357 Ruger pistol. He was then taken into custody.
In other recent police activity, officers:
— Charged a 16th Avenue motel guest with serious disorderly conduct after initially being called by management to ask him to lower the volume on music he was playing.
PFC Christina Martinez and Lt. Frank Wise said John I. Fowler, 54, told them he was not violating the motel’s 10 p.m. “quiet time” restriction because it was only 9:30 or so.
When the officers explained to him that by playing his music loudly he was still disturbing the peace regardless of the time, he demanded to see the motel’s quiet time sign.
Upon being shown it, Fowler allegedly ripped the sign from the counter and was immediately informed he was under arrest. When Martinez and Wise attempted to handcuff him, he reportedly resisted.
When a third officer, Sgt. Dennard, also arrived on the scene, Fowler allegedly continued to resist until he was tased twice.
— Assisted Wilcox County authorities in the recovery of a vehicle reported stolen from there.
Sgt. Dennard said he was on the lookout for a gold 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier involved in the case when he met the vehicle at Pecan Street and 13th Avenue.
At that point, the driver later identified as David Smith turned into the Wal-Mart parking lot, stopped the vehicle and got out with his hands raised into the air. After being taken into custody, he was released to a Wilcox County deputy.
As it turned out, the car owner had been following the vehicle while telephoning authorities of its location throughout her pursuit of it. The car was released to her following the suspect’s apprehension.
— Investigated a residential burglary in the 300 block of 19th Avenue East.
The resident told PFC Martinez that after he and his brother left their home at 2:30 p.m. to report for work in Albany someone kicked in the back door of the dwelling to gain entry.
Both of their rooms were ransacked.
Taken from the residence were a 32-inch Vizio television set and two watches. The brother who did not appear to be all that disturbed about the incident told the investigating officer he had an idea of the burglar’s identity but declined to give her any additional information.
