Known shoplifter attempts to steal shoes
On June 24, law enforcement was dispatched to Walmart at 2592 N.
Columbia St. in reference to shoplifting. The asset protection manager gave the officer a lunch bag containing two pairs of shoes that she confiscated from Audrey Turner’s person as she was attempting to leave the location. All three items totaled $57.97. Turner was transported to the Baldwin County Law Enforcement Center without incident.
Turner was found to have six previous guilty convictions for shoplifting. A felony shoplifting warrant was secured for Turner.
Employee steals over $3,000 from Auto Zone
On June 26, law enforcement was dispatched to Auto Zone, at 1841 N.
Columbia St., in reference to a theft. The manager advised an employee by the name of Justin Tyrone Howell had been stealing from the store. The manager questioned Howell prior to law enforcement arrival to which he admitted to making false return transactions and pocketing the money. After thorough discussion with law enforcement, Howell advised “he understands the true amount is most likely way more than the $3,823.84, however, he could not remember every time he has completed a fake return transaction,” according to the report. A warrant for theft by taking was secured for Justin Howell.
Male arrested for DUI
On June 28, while law enforcement was patrolling Gordon Highway in the area of Coopers Road, an officer observed a black Honda Civic backed into Pierce's Liquor Store. At the sight of the marked patrol car, the male drove away from the store. The officer ran the tag displayed on the vehicle and GCIC indicated that the vehicle registration was suspended. The driver, identified as Clifford Pridemore, pulled into the trailer park located at 542 Gordon Highway and circled around to Pierce's Grocery Store, where the officer conducted a traffic stop. As Pridemore exited the vehicle, he appeared unsteady on his feet, used the vehicle to maintain his balance, and ended up leaning against it. The officer could smell the odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage coming from his person.
Pridemore stated he had consumed alcohol earlier. Pridemore participated in a standardized field sobriety test and was found to be unsafe to drive. Pridemore gave a sufficient breath sample on the Intox 9000 with a result of .117 BrAC. Pridemore was issued citations for suspended registration and driving under the influence.
Driver and passenger arrested during traffic stop
On June 28, while patrolling Colony Farm Road in the area of Old Colony Farm Road, an officer ran a Georgia tag displayed on a black Ford Expedition through GCIC. GCIC returned that the tag was suspended. The officer initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of Colony Farm Road and Mount Pleasant Church Road. The driver, Adam Lastinger, had the odor of marijuana coming from inside his vehicle. Adam admitted to smoking marijuana in the vehicle several days ago. When asked, the rear seat passenger, Ersel Belcher, admitted to having marijuana on his person and handed the officer a piece of folded paper. Inside the paper was a small marijuana roach and a crystal-like substance, suspected to be methamphetamine.
During a search of the vehicle, a deputy located several pill bottles belonging to Beasley. Ersel was charged with possession of methamphetamine and two counts of pills outside their original containers. Warrants for possession of Xanax and Gabapentin not in their original containers were sworn against Eva Beasley.
Passenger arrested for possession of methamphetamine On June 28, while patrolling the parking lot of Dollar General, located at 2966 N. Columbia St., an officer noticed a gray Honda Accord parked on the side of the building. GCIC indicated that the registered owner of the vehicle had an active arrest warrant. The officer recognized the male standing in front of the vehicle as the registered owner, Chiron Walker. In the vehicle was a female, identified as Heather Schneider.
Walker was informed of his outstanding warrant. While speaking to Chiron, the officer could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. When asked, both Chiron and Schneider advised there was nothing in the vehicle. As the officer began searching the vehicle, they asked Heather if a purse inside the vehicle belonged to her. Heather stated that the purse belonged to someone else, but she was carrying it. Inside the purse were two bags containing pills suspected to be MDMA/Ecstasy. A continued search of the vehicle did not reveal any other illicit substances.
While at the jail, a sergeant advised that he discovered a white powder on his back seat, which is suspected to be methamphetamine. On Schneider's pants, there was a white, crystal-like powder smeared across her buttocks. A field test of the powder tested positive for methamphetamine.
Video footage revealed Schneider extracting a crumpled lottery ticket from the buttocks area, specifically from inside her waistband, while she was seated in the rear seat of my patrol vehicle. She was turned over to the jail staff for possession of MDMA/ecstasy, possession of methamphetamine, crossing the guard lines, and tampering with evidence.