Officials: Man caught breaking into vehicle

RUSSELLVILLE -- A local man was arrested after he was caught trying to break into a vehicle Tuesday, authorities said.

Officials with the Russellville Police Department said 34-year-old Jerry Swindle, 104 John Tyler St., Russellville, was charged with unlawful breaking and entering a motor vehicle and third-degree theft of property.

Russellville Police Investigator Lt. Scotty Lowery said Swindle was caught trying to steal gas out of a vehicle parked at a residence on Clay Avenue.

"Someone drove by and saw him and contacted our department,'' Lowery said. "When we pulled up, he was in the act of trying to steal the gas.''

Lowery said Swindle is also a suspect in a nonrelated residential burglary. He is being held in the Russellville City Jail.

Muscle Shoals man hurt in wreck

MUSCLE SHOALS -- One man was injured in a two-vehicle wreck Wednesday, authorities said.

Officials with the Muscle Shoals Police Department said 28-year-old John Kenneth Cosby, of Muscle Shoals, was airlifted to Huntsville Hospital after he was injured in the wreck that took place at 5:52 p.m. at the intersection of Wilson Dam Road and Avalon Avenue.

Reports indicate Cosby, who was driving a 1998 Chevy S-10 pickup was struck by a 1983 Chevrolet C1500 truck that was driven by 71-year-old Bobby Vinson, of Muscle Shoals.

Vinson, who was traveling south on Wilson Dam was attempting to turn east on Avalon when the accident happened, according to reports. The collision caused Cosby's vehicle to flip several times before ejecting him, authorities said.

Vinson was not injured, according to reports.

There was no word late Wednesday on Cosby's condition.

Probe of home invasion ongoing

TUSCUMBA -- Law enforcement officials are continuing the investigation into a home invasion that took place Friday near Leighton.

Colbert County Sheriff Ronnie May said investigators have been following up on leads.

"At this point, we're still trying to examine all avenues (of the investigation),'' the sheriff said.

He said several items have been sent to the forensic lab and authorities are waiting on the results. Authorities said a man went into the residence on Alabama 157 just east of Muscle Shoals, and found his wife gagged and bound with duct tape to the bed. Investigators said a strong smell of gasoline was present and an area in the kitchen had been burned.

"We've been treating this as a home invasion from the start and that continues to be the case, and we'll let the evidence take us where we need to go,'' May said.

Authorities: Tip leads to arrest

MOULTON -- Authorities said a tip that led to the arrest of a Lawrence County man might help solve several area burglaries.

Officials with the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office said 19-year-old Tyler Love, 61 Lawrence 357, Trinity, has been charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Lt. Tim McWhorter said after executing a search warrant at Love's residences, deputies found drugs, drug paraphernalia and a number of items believed to have been taken in recent residential and vehicle burglaries.

McWhorter said prescription narcotics, marijuana and various types of drug paraphernalia were also found.

He said deputies found 15 purses, stereo systems, stereo equipment and interior car parts.

Authorities believe Love could be involved in a number of vehicle burglaries that have recently taken place in Decatur and Morgan County as well as Lawrence County.

Love is being held in the Lawrence County Jail.

Suspect caught in Wayne County

WAYNESBORO, Tenn. -- A Lewis County man wanted for shooting his sister-in-law and nephew, was arrested Tuesday in Wayne County, officials said.

Wayne County Sheriff Ric Wilson said deputies arrested 42-year-old David Walls, of Mount Pleasant, Tenn., at a residence on Chalk Creek Road, which is south of Waynesboro.

"We got word that (Walls) could be heading to a location in Wayne County, so our deputies along with the Tennessee Highway Patrol went to the location and found him,'' the sheriff said. "He was not armed, and he was taken into custody without incident.''

Wilson said Walls has been transferred to Hohenwald, Tenn., where he is being held in the Lewis County Jail.

Lewis County Sheriff Dwight Kilpatrick said Walls is accused of shooting 45-year-old Sarah Cotham, who is his wife's sister, and her son, 29-year-old Jason Shepherd, during a domestic dispute.

Kilpatrick said Walls has been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder. The victims were taken to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville.