News Briefs From Across The State
Officer found loads of merchandise in car
Three residents from Mobile, Alabama are being held at a Gulfport jail after they allegedly stole more than $1,200 in merchandise from local outlet stores. Latonia Stanley, 22, Erica Stanley, 28, and Kevin Jermaine Coleman, 26, were arrested after a police officer pulled them over for a routine traffic violation.
Authorities said the vehicle, a white 2007 Chevrolet Impala, was registered to Latonia Stanley, and it was pulled over on Interstate 10 near the 75 mile marker.
The patrolman noticed the three occupants acting suspiciously and he asked them to exit the vehicle. When they did, the officer noticed a large amount of merchandise in the car with the security devices still attached. The property was valued at $1,200.
When the suspects were questioned about the items, they reportedly admitted they were taken from Prime Outlets in Gulfport. All three suspects were arrested and transported to the Jackson County Adult Detention Center.
Man who shot and killed quadriplegic going to grand jury
Gulfport police said a man who allegedly shot and killed a quadriplegic while he was sitting in his van will go before the grand jury. Twenty-five year old Courtney Edward Cole was charged with the murder of 42-year old George Shoemake on May 23.
Authorities said Shoemake was sitting in his van at the Magnolia State Apartments at 1005 West Birch Drive when he was reportedly shot in the chest. Police reached out to the public for help in identifying a suspect and the investigation led to the arrest of Cole, who was already on parole for the burglary of a business.
Bond for Cole was set at $1 million.
Pair caught in auto theft
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department arrested a 20-year old man and a juvenile in connection with a series of burglaries in the Vancleave area. Authorities said on July 18, William Aaron Griffith and the juvenile were charged with the burglary of the Four Corners Store and the attempted burglary of the Fort Ramsey Store.
They were also charged with attempted auto theft and commercial burglary of a vehicle at the Four Corners store.
Reportedly, on July 18, a sheriff’s deputy responded to a car accident on Jim Ramsey Road, when he saw two people running from the vehicle. During his investigation, the deputy learned the vehicle was stolen and it was the same truck used in the attempted burglary of the Four Corners store.
Griffith and the juvenile were arrested and the property stolen from the burglaries was recovered from the suspect’s home.
Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and they believe Griffith and the juvenile are connected to several other thefts in the Vancleave area over the last few weeks.
Anyone with information can contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department at 228-769-3063 or CrimeStoppers at 1-877-787-5898.
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