From STAFF REPORTS



CORDELE — Responding to a call about random shots being fired in the Morningside Apartments area last Friday, Cordele Police Department officers arrested two teen-agers on a multitude of charges.

Ptl. Erica Cromer said that while en route to the scene she, too, heard gunfire and that after arriving in the vicinity saw two male subjects attempting to leave the playground area.

Based upon a clothing description radioed to fellow officers, both subjects were later apprehended and a .20-gauge shotgun they were allegedly firing was found stashed into a garbage can.

One of the suspects was identified as Anthony White, 17, of 405 21st Ave. W. The other is a juvenile whose age wasn’t indicated on media reports since officers were unable to question him because his mother refused to come to the police department.

Both White and the juvenile have been charged with discharging a firearm within the city limits, possession of a dangerous weapon, discharge of a firearm on another’s property, criminal trespass, reckless conduct and possession of tools for the commission of a crime.

White faces an additional charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

— Filed shoplifting charges against Maritza Sanchez, 40, of 175 Simmons Dairy Rd., and Jessenia Eire, 18, of 175 Sirmons Rd., who allegedly attempted to steal an assortment of items valued at $194.66 from Wal-Mart.

A similar case was made against two juveniles who allegedly stole candy from Dollar General’s Seventh St. S. location.— Made a lone arrest for probation violation.

Cpl. Christina Martinez cited Martika Marie Whitehead, 19, of 1909 Sheppard Dr. with that offense after she was stopped by a Georgia State Patrol trooper for two traffic vioiations.

— Investigated four theft reports the most serious of which involved the disappearance of almost $4,000 from a 16th Avenue loan company where officials suspect an ex-employee as the culprit.

Lt. Frank Wise said he was told it will be sometime this week before an exact amount can be determined, but additional missing funds are a possibility. The case will be turned over to the detective division when a complete report is filed by the company.

An employee of Watson Food Store told Cpl. Christina Martinez that an elderly white male driving a white late model Toyota SUV failed to pay for $37.82 worth of gasoline pumped into his vehicle just before 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

A resident of the Woodstone Apartments told Pvt. David Haas that a Clarion brand radio valued at $650 has been taken from his disabled truck. The vehicle’s dash was damaged as was the paint job and door handle on the passenger side.

Items also were stolen from a car parked in the 400 block of Third Ave. W. Sunday night. The vehicle owner told Pvt. Erica Cromer her 1999 Pontiac Grand Am was entered sometime Sunday night and a laptop and two MP3 players valued at almost $2,100 was stolen from it.

— Received a burglary complaint from resident of the 600 block of 23rd Ave. W. told Ptl. David Haas.

The victim said she arrived home late Friday afternoon to find her back door standing open and two pair of jeans, an Alltell cell phone and a charger for it missing. Entry was gained through a window and exit was made through the door.

— Responded to a simple battery complaint filed by a woman who told Pvt. David Haas she was leaving her grandmother’s home on 15th Ave. W. just after midnight Saturday when she was attacked by two black females whose first names she provided to the investigating officer.

The victim, who suffered apparent minor facial injuries, said the offenders also took her cellular phone. Officers looked for but could not locate the suspects.

— Looked into two vandalism reports filed by female victims.

One of the complainants told Lt. Frank Wise obscenities were scratched on her car parked behind a residence in the 1600 block of Rainbow Dr. from Friday night to Saturday afternoon. The name of a suspect was provided to the officer.

The other complainant said the left rear window of her 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe was broken out while it was parked in the 100 block of 14th Ave. W. Saturday night.

— Alerted fire department personnel just before 4 p.m. Sunday that a car parked in the 1200 block of Joe Wright Dr. S. was ablaze.

While firemen extinguished the flames reported by Ptl. Martinez, Lt. Wise looked for and located the vehicle owner who said the car had been smoking before and that a local repair shop employee had told her nothing could be done about the problem. The motor compartment of the vehicle was a complete loss.

— Made assorted cases against a vehicle operator Georgia State Patrol Trooper Taunton stopped at 20th Avenue and 10th St. for traffic violations.

The driver, William Herman Montague, 32, of 1008-A Seven Springs Dr., was cited for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, no proof of motor vehicle insurance, driving on a suspended or expired license, failure to obey a traffic control device and DUI.