Altercation between employees causes damage to business
On June 6, law enforcement was dispatched in reference to a fight. Upon arrival, an officer found one male, identified as Jamel Cooper, cleaning up business cards off the floor. Cooper reported to the officer that he was in a physical altercation with another male that he identified as Brandon Hunter. Cooper stated that he became irate when his supervisor dropped a grievance on Hunter. Allegedly, Hunter began to point at Cooper and make threats, so Cooper put his arms up to protect himself. Reportedly, that is the moment that Hunter threw a punch at his face. Cooper stated he then threw a punch back at Hunter t and they began to wrestle and push each other in the office area. The altercation caused damage to the south side of the room including a broken window and caused a hole to form on the north side of the room. The officer then spoke to Hunter who stated Cooper approached him stating he knew where he lived and that he felt threatened by Cooper. Allegedly, Cooper kept telling Hunter to meet him after work to ‘handle business’ while approaching him. Hunter stated he threw the punch when Cooper got closer because he felt threatened and wanted Cooper to back away. Both Hunter and Cooper were placed into double-locked handcuffs per department policy and transported to the Baldwin County jail. Warrants were taken out for one count each for affray and criminal trespass damage to property.
Burglary at All 4-U
On June 10, law enforcement observed a burglary in process at All 4-U. A male, later identified as Calvin Lowe, was wearing a bookbag on his back near the front door of the property. Lowe began to walk away from the business when he observed a patrol car pass by. By the time the officer circled back, Lowe was gone. Upon return, the office observed the previously shattered glass door of the business open and unsecure. Previously, a metal grate and wooden panel had been placed in the door to block entry inside, but the officer observed both on the ground. The officer placed the grate and panel back against the door and put a nearby cinder block against it as well. On June 11, the officer returned and discovered that all the items had been shifted aside. The officer moved his vehicle to observe the situation, when he saw Loew emerge from the building and proceed towards their location. Lowe began to run upon seeing the patrol car and the officer gave chase on foot. Lowe refused to obey verbal commands to stop and the chase continued through the parking lot of Discount Tobacco before Lowe turned eastbound on West Screven Street. The officer observed Lowe turn southbound into the rear parking lot of McDonald’s before he was lost running into a forested area which separated McDonald’s and Discount Tobacco. Eventually, other law enforcement units arrived on scene and set a perimeter around the forested area and the original officer continued to give verbal commands until Lowe surrendered himself. Upon arrest, several screwdrivers, a flashlight, and a glass pipe were located in Lowe’s bookbag. Warrants for burglary, willful obstruction of law enforcement officers, and possession of tools for the commission of a crime will be secured for Lowe.