From STAFF REPORTS
CORDELE —Shortly after allegedly stealing from a local flower shop, a 65-year-old Cordele man was arrested while still in possession of the fan he is accused of taking.
Cordele Police Department Bruce Gourley said he was en route to J.W. Design on Fifth St. S. to investigate the late Tuesday night theft when he encountered a man fitting the description of the alleged culprit.
Gourley said when he took an apparently intoxicated Willie Fred Barron, 65, of 700 Seventh Ave. W., into custody at 18th Avenue and Seventh Street he was carrying a fan underneath his arm.
The owner of the flower shop confirmed the fan and the man were at his place of business when the theft occurred just before 11:30 p.m.. An additional charge of probation violation was made against Barron.
In other police activity on Tuesday, officers:
— Assumed possession of abandoned goods in two different instances
PFC Christina Martinez met Crisp County Deputy Sheriff Mike Mitchell at Rooney Bowen Chevrolet where a black male ditched a scooter he was riding and ran through the shop area of that business when he saw Mitchell.
Further investigation revealed the scooter had been stolen around noon. While the fleeing rider never was caught, the scooter was returned to its rightful owner.
Officer Chris Forsythe was called to Cindy’s Diner on Seventh St. S. in reference to a bicycle that was found on the property. It was taken to the police department’s bike cage for possible claim by the owner.
— Served probation violation warrants on Willie Barrett Jr., 40, of 508 Sixth Ave. W. and Bobby James Scroggins, 44, of 306 East Rockhouse Rd.,
— Received a vandalism complaint from the owner of a vacant house in the 300 block of Eighth Ave. E. The back door there had been kicked in and the door frame had been shattered, according to Sgt. Charles Dennard.
— Checked out a terroristic threats and acts complaint from an 11th St. S. resident who said she heard a juvenile she named was going to “shoot her house up tonight” in retaliation for her son’s alleged involvement in a shooting at the 24th Avenue projects.
Cpl. Dedra Davis said the woman told him her son lives not with her but with his father in Ashburn. The father told the officer his son had not been in Cordele on Monday.
— Said a man allegedly injured his wife during a domestic violence act in the 600 block of 11th St. S.
A very emotional and crying victim told Sgt. Dennard she was struck on the back and head before fleeing her house to escape further abuse. She said the dispute began during an argument over a subject who is her son and her husband’s step-son.
Dennard said he is requesting a simple battery warrant for the offender.
— Arrested Jenny Osteen Malone, 33, of 3380 U.S. 280 E., on a first-degree check forgery charge. No details of the incident were listed on media reports.
