Staff Writer
Cordele Dispatch
Cordele —
Burglars and thieves made for a busy weekend for Cordele Police Department officers who from Friday to Sunday investigated a dozen such incidents.
Cpl. Jesse Barfield said he was called Saturday to investigate a break-in at a residence in the 800 block of 17th Ave. E.
The burglary was reported by the burglary victim’s neighbor who saw a light on in his house and the front door standing open with its glass broken. Listed as missing were a 32-inch Polaroid LCD TV with a built-in DVD and a Remington 12-gauge shotgun. The house had been ransacked.
Sgt. Robert Montgomery sped to a residence in the 300 block of 12th St. S. shortly after 3:30 a.m. Saturday when an alarm there was triggered.
A window air conditioner had been pushed to the floor to gain entry, The only thing listed as missing by the home owner was two compact discs.
A Wal-Mart employee told Lt. Carrie Lull that while he was working Friday someone entered his vehicle and took an XM radio, a Cobra radar detector and a Pioneer CD/DVD player all valued at $710.
A resident of the 600 block of 19th Ave. E. told Cpl. Bruce Gourley Sunday that approximately $1,500 worth of assorted items had been taken from a shed behind his home.
Among things listed as missing were a Poulan chainsaw, two pressure washers, a bench grinder, a skill saw, a Weedeater brand blower, two other Weedeaters, a Firepower 250 welder, a Craftsman push mower and about 120 pounds of scrap metal.
A Wal-Mart customer told PFC Clinton Latham that while she was shopping Friday afternoon she either lost or had her WIC card stolen from her buggy.
A resident of the 700 block of 23rd Ave. W. told Latham her cousin entered her vehicle Friday afternoon and removed eight $10 bills from a purse she had left in it. She was able to provide only a nickname for the offender.
A Comfort Inn employee told Sgt. Montgomery Friday evening that her Georgia Bulldog purse containing her driver’s license and Social Security card had been stolen.
A Cordele Supermarket customer told Sgt. Charles Pheil that while shopping there during the noon hour Saturday she accidentally left her cell phone on the counter.
Upon realizing her oversight, she returned inside only to find her phone missing. The store manager checked security tapes that showed a black male wearing a blue shirt and black shorts picking up the phone. The complainant went outside and confronted the subject who denied the theft.
A resident of the 500 block of 22nd Ave. W. told Latham that a subject he named took $100 from his vehicle and fled the scene Saturday afternoon. The offender first ran into a nearby residence, screamed that someone was chasing her and then ran out the back door.
An employee of Denny’s Restaurant told Latham Sunday afternoon that two white males failed to make payment for $22.71 worth of food they had consumed. Upon being approached by workers, the men ran out the door and drove away westbound in a silver Oldsmobile. A search for the car and its occupants was fruitless.
A resident of the 800 block of 13th Avenue East told Sgt. Montgomery on Saturday that someone had stolen his push lawnmower from underneath his carport.
A resident of the 700 block of 24th Ave. W. told Latham Sunday evening that someone entered his unlocked car and stole a Sony Xplode CD player, a bottle of Polo cologne and three Scorpion brand fishing rods.
— Issued a loitering citation to Gene McCall, 57, of Leesburg, Fla.
Employees of Arby’s complained to Latham Friday afternoon the subject was there disturbing customers. The officer’s report noted that he appeared to be highly intoxicated.
— Received a shoplifting complaint.
An employee of Wal-Mart told Latham that a large black female wearing a green dress was seen Friday attempting to steal several items.
When approached by loss prevention officers, she dropped her purse and its contents before running from the premises. The purse contained no identification items
— Investigated a stalking complaint filed by a woman who came to police headquarters during the noon hour Saturday to report that a man she named has been following her around town and harassing her since last November. PFC Latham made a futile attempt to contact the man.
— Accepted a missing person report filed Saturday night by a resident of the 300 block of 14th Ave. W.
The complainant told Montgomery her son had not been seen since Friday. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans.
— Made a disorderly conduct case against Isauro Velazquez Morales, 24, of 307 Eighth Ave. E.
Sgt. Montgomery said the subject was found trying to hide behind a tree in the back yard of a residence three blocks away from his home. The complainant told the officer the offender beat on his door, cursed him and tried to start a fight. He also cursed the arresting officer.
— Probed two cases of vandalism to vehicles.
PFC Latham said the owner of a car parked in the 100 block of 20th Ave. W. showed him where eggs had been thrown on it and extensive scratches had been made on both sides.
A resident of the 700 block of 17th Ave. W. told Cpl. Barfield a person dressed in all black scratched both sides of her 1999 Nissan Altima, broke out the vehicle’s rear window and attempted to put a candy bar into its gas tank.
— Booked two Hispanic men on driving while unlicensed charges after they were arrested Sunday by Georgia State Patrol troopers.
Latham identified the pair as Juan Morauecho, 23, of 175 Allison Rd., and Raul Gomez, 22, of 2201 Truman St. Immigration and customers enforcement (ICE) officials have been notified of their admitted immigration status.
— Responded to an apparently unfounded armed robbery report made shortly after midnight Sunday from the 1700 block of 16th Ave. E.
A caller told 911 personnel that a black male bearing a small handgun had taken his wallet and headed west. Several units looked for both a victim and an offender but found neither.
— Picked up two persons being sought for previous violations.
Sgt. Charles Pheil arrested Denise Major, 41, of 404-A Ninth Ave. W. on 10th Street Friday morning.
Sgt. Robert Montgomery took Jimmy Lee Henton, 53, of 706 12th Ave. E., into custody Saturday night in the 100 block of 16th Ave. E. Henton was later charged with contempt of court.
