Fortunately the officers were able to quickly locate the vehicle with both the suspects and the victim inside. 

According to the police report, the two suspects, Jonathan Burrell and Joel Riggs, were taken into custody and now face felony charges of first-degree kidnapping and second-degree robbery.  Burrell also faces misdemeanor charges of failure to appear for a traffic violation, failure to have liability insurance and failure to have a license for an animal.

Both 24-year-old Burrell and 25-year-old Riggs are being held in Madison County Jail without bond, and their criminal case is still under investigation. 

Fortunately, the victim, Ryan Prince, received only minor injuries in his altercation with the defendants.

Kidnapping and robbery are very serious crimes.  In the state of Alabama, kidnapping in the first degree is a Class A felony, and if convicted on this charge,  Burrell and Riggs  could receive at least ten years in prison.  Robbery in the second-degree is a Class B felony offense, and if convicted of this crime, the two accused men would be imprisoned for at least two years. 

To reduce the seriousness of their clients’ actions, however, the defendants’ attorneys could negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecution.  In exchange for a guilty plea, the prosecution could agree to either reduce the charges against Burrell and Riggs, or agree to drop one of the charges, thus reducing the time the two defendants would spend in prison for the crimes they committed against Mr. Prince.

Police Chief Jim Roberson awarded the Chief’s Award to Sgt. Juan Rodriquez for heading the investigation into the murder of a mother and her sons who were found slain inside their apartment on December 14.  Chief Roberson said by using excellent investigating techniques, Rodriquez was able to quickly find the suspect, Anna Patricia Dominguez, who eventually was charged with capital murder in the brutal slayings of the family.

Sgt. Doug Finch received the Award of Merit for his actions in directing a crime scene that covered multiple hotel floors and included more than fifteen witnesses after responding to a shooting at the Rodeway Inn on March 3, 2013, which left a teenager dead.

The Detective of the Year Award went to officer Marti Abernathy for consistently handling more cases than any other detective.  Officials noted that Officer Abernathy handles the more emotionally charged cases that include family relations and domestic abuse.

Benjamin Marshall, a security guard, noticed a robbery taking place at the Dollar Tree on Lakeshore Parkway on November 30 of last year.  Ignoring the danger, Marshall chased the robber, 21-year-old Christopher James Henderson, who was dressed as a security guard when he robbed the store manager at gunpoint, into the nearby woods and was able to direct officers to the area the suspect was last seen.  Police then brought in a tracking dog and were able to capture Henderson.  For his act of bravery and quick thinking, the Homewood Police Department awarded Marshall the Citizen Commendation Award.

The Unit Citation Award, an award that goes to the top department, was given this year to the Criminal Investigations Division for its work primarily in both the triple murder and hotel shooting.

In all, the Homewood Police Department honored more than a dozen people for their crime-fighting work.

The driver, James Toth, was arrested and now faces one DUI charge and another charge for failing to maintain his lane.  His wife, Reese Witherspoon, faces a charge of disorderly conduct for her actions.

Witherspoon, an Oscar winning actress, and her husband, CAA agent, James Toth, spent just a short time in jail before being released.

Witherspoon, who was in the Atlanta area filming “The Good Lie,” according to todayentertainment.today.com, was “deeply embarrassed” by the incident, and said she “clearly had one drink too many.”

Officer J. Pyland noted in his report that Witherspoon asked, “Do you know my name?  You’re about to find out who I am.  You are going to be on national news.”

Witherspoon released a statement saying, “Out of respect for the ongoing legal situation, I cannot comment on everything that is being reported right now.  But I do want to say, I clearly had one drink too many and I am deeply embarrassed about the things I said … I was disrespectful to the officer who was just doing his job … I have nothing but respect for the police and I’m sorry for my behavior.”

No matter who you are or what your circumstances in life may be, an arrest for a DUI can be a frightening, at times embarrassing and confusing experience.  If you have been charged with a DUI, contact an experienced Birmingham criminal defense attorney to discuss your options and protect your rights.

Last week, Cameron’s father reported his son missing. Investigators had been searching for the boy and his mother since last week. Cameron’s photo was spread all around the greater Washington area.

Detectives in the Reston district said that it was scheduled that Rebecca will return Cameron to his father’s home on Sunday 7th of April but she failed to return Cameron for custody.

Cameron’s father, Joe Serafin, told that he started worrying when he came to know on 4th of April that Cameron had not been in school all week long and his worry increased when Rebecca didn’t contact Joe on 8th of April. Joe said, “When I tried contacting her there was no response. I’m concerned for him, I’m worried about him and I just want him back home safe”.

Rebecca has changed her own and Cameron’s overall look so that no one can recognize them. According to the police, the preliminary investigation has revealed that Rebecca Serafin has altered her appearance, and that of Cameron, in an apparent attempt to avoid being located.

Rebecca’s car has been found by the police who say that she may be using the last name Love for her and her son as Rebecca Serafin’s other name is Rebecca Love. Police told that Serafin’s car and other items have been discovered, adding to the belief that she is attempting to remain undetected.

Police are concerned about the safety of Cameron. In a statement, Fairfax police said, “We are working closely with our law enforcement partners across the country to gather and analyze potential investigative leads in order to locate and to bring Cameron home as soon as possible. We continue to encourage the public to engage in social media; particularly Twitter and Facebook, to spread official, accurate and timely information regarding this case”.

According to a news release, police have got an arrest warrant charging Rebecca Serafin with felony parental abduction and custodial interference.

Rebecca’s height is 5 feet 4 inches and her weight is around 120 to 130 pounds. Cameron’s height is 3 feet 5 inches and his weight is around 40 pounds.

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Rolando McClain was, according to the Decatur Police Department, arrested and charged with two misdemeanors after an incident at Pines Park in Decatur.  McClain allegedly yelled obscenities at police officers Sunday when they were attempting to disperse a crowd of more than 700 people at the park after responding to calls of a fight.

Lt. John Crouch, the public information officer for the Decatur Police Department, said in a statement that officers started moving everyone out of the street when someone in the crowd began yelling obscenities at the police in an attempt to stir up the crowd.  Officers eventually identified the person yelling obscenities as McClain, and when they attempted to arrest him for disorderly conduct, he resisted arrest. He was placed under arrest for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest by the officers.

According to the arrest report, McClain was released from jail after posting his bond of $1,000.

McClain, who is a Decatur native,  is no stranger to Decatur police.  Just last year on May 18, he was convicted of reckless endangerment, menacing, third-degree assault and firing a gun in city limits for an incident that occurred in November 2011.  He received a sentence of 180 days in jail, however, when the victim declined to testify when McClain appealed the conviction, the charges were dismissed.

On January 8 of this year, McClain was arrested on charges of violating rules on car window tint and attempting to lie to police about his identity, as well.

While playing as a linebacker for the University of Alabama, McClain was recognized as an All-American and helped Alabama win the 2010 Nation Championship.  In the 2010 NFL Draft, McClain was drafted by the Oakland Raiders, but was let go by the team last year.

In February, Daniel O’Rourke, 39, pleaded guilty to shooting into a house in the 2200 block of Boykin Road that was occupied by those two young children.  He also pleaded guilty at that time to shooting into an unoccupied vehicle.

Tim Douthit, Mobile County Assistant District Attorney, said O’Rourke fired three or four times into the house, with one of the bullets striking the headboard of a bed, where the intended victim’s daughters were sleeping.  This is the reason Douthit had asked for jail time in O’Rourke’s sentencing.

O’Rourke’s defense attorney, James Byrd, told the court his client had no criminal record and also had a job offer from Huntington Ingalls Shipyard.  He then asked Mobile County Circuit Judge John Lockett for an extended, suspended sentence, to give his client time to prove to the court that, as quoted in al.com,  “it was a terrible mistake that will never happen again.”

Why O’Rourke fired into both the home and car is unclear.  However, the intended victim stated the incident involved an argument over child custody, though O’Rourke denies this is true.

Unfortunately for the defendant, Judge John Lockett did not heed defense attorney James Byrd’s pleas for leniency  and sentenced O’Rourke to ten years in prison for his crime.

O’Rourke’s defense attorney said  if his client behaves in prison, he expects him to only serve about a third of his sentence, which means he will spend about three to three-and-a-half years in prison.

Clanton Chief Police Brian Stillwell believe they have now captured this serial robber.

According to Chief Stillwell, the suspected serial robber is Andre Lavelle Webster and he was arrested in Montgomery on Thursday, April 11. 

Webster is suspected of robberies in five Alabama cities along I-65, with the robberies ranging  from Huntsville in the north to Dothan in the south.  When Webster would rob his victims, he was always polite, although he did carry a large hand gun to encourage his victims to comply with his demands.

Chief Stillwell said Clanton police officers began to seek the suspect after he first robbed  the Inn of Clanton and then an Exxon gas station, as well.  When the clerk at the Exxon station gave the description of the robbery suspect and his demands, Clanton police discovered the similarities to the robbery at the Clanton Inn. 

Myfoxal.com reports that Clanton police and other law enforcement agencies began working together when they discovered other robberies along the I-65 corridor that fit the same MO.  Some of the cities hit by the robber were Huntsville, Clanton, Prattville, Hoover, Dothan and Millbrook.

Webster was booked into the Chilton County Jail on Thursday, April 11.  Information on Webster’s charges and bail have not yet been released by the Chilton County Jail.

When arrested and charged with the crime of burglary, it is extremely important to enlist the services of an experienced, aggressive Alabama criminal defense attorney to skillfully represent you in a court of law.

The Gulf Shores Police Department (GSPD) reports that one 20-year-old Kansas State University student celebrating spring break in Alabama was arrested for underage drinking during the week of March 23.

Lt. Bill Cowen, GSPD spokesman, told WPMI TV that when the student was arrested for underage drinking, officers discovered what they thought was a bag of candy similar to Tootsie Rolls in his pockets.  However, the bag of candy was not Tootsie Rolls, but Cheeba Chews, a confection that contains marijuana.

Lt. Cowen reported  police officers in Gulf Shores had never seen Cheeba Chews before arresting the college student.

Cheeba Chews look and feel like a Tootsie Roll, but contain THC, a component of marijuana.  Eating one Cheeba Chew is the same as smoking one joint.

Cheeba Chews are manufactured in Colorado and are sold legally in Colorado, Oregon and California and are touted as medicated chocolate taffy.

Law enforcement officials are worried that children will want to eat  Cheeba Chews because they look just  like candy.  Although this isn’t a problem now, police fear that it could turn into one in the future.

The Kansas State University student arrested faces a misdemeanor for possession of marijuana.   Anyone caught with a chew will face the same charge as someone caught with a joint.

The Drug Education Council of Gulf Shores is promoting awareness of Cheeba Chews by  displaying pictures of the candy in the hopes that parents, educators and police will be able to recognize it and keep the confection away from  children.

Original story here.

Terrell and two fellow officers, who remain unnamed unless it is found  they violated policy, were at the Waffle House on Dauphin Street in late January when the incident occurred.

MPD stated officers are encouraged to carry their approved weapons while off duty, but not when they are consuming alcohol.

Mobile Police Chief Michael T. Williams reported to News 15 the investigation is complete and now a trial board will use the information discovered during the investigation to make a decision.  Rains wrote in an email, “The punishment is up to the trial board … the board will make a suggestion as to what punishment will be handed down.”  He added he expected the results of the trial board to be released by the end of March.

MPD has not stated whether or not Terrell is accused of just brandishing the weapon in public or if he used the weapon in a threatening manner.  Terrell and the two other officers are still on active duty and will remain so until the results of the trial board are announced.

In 2001, Terrell was seriously injured in a gunfight with a suspected drug dealer in the Roger Williams housing project.  Because of his heroism in the incident, he was honored as the Alabama Police Officer of the Year.

Original story found here.

Nbcnews.com writes that Peter Murphy, the former lead singer of Bauhaus, was arrested by Glendale, California police on Saturday on suspicion for causing injuries while driving under the influence, felony hit-and-run, and possession of methamphetamine.

According to the Glendale News-Press, Murphy, after rear-ending a vehicle in Glendale, fled to Los Angeles, where an eye-witness to the accident who followed Murphy, blocked his vehicle until police arrived.  According to Glendale police, the witness followed Murphy because “he was afraid Murphy would kill someone with his driving.”

Glendale police report that Murphy seemed “very confused” and had trouble remembering the day and time.  They also stated Murphy denied consuming alcohol and said he had just taken his depression medication and was jet-lagged from just flying into the area.  However, it has been reported that officers found a small plastic bag possibly filled with methamphetamine.  Although the singer denied the bag was his, officers believe he tried to discard the bag in the patrol car.

Police determined Murphy may be a flight risk as he currently resides in Turkey, and because of this, he is being held on a $500,000 bond.

An arrest for any type of crime is not only a shocking experience in one’s life, but a very  confusing experience as well. When arrested and charged with a crime, call an experienced, aggressive Birmingham criminal defense attorney to assess the seriousness of the situation, explain all options and protect your rights.