Wife accused of smuggling drugs

TUSCUMBIA — A Muscle Shoals woman who authorities said tried to smuggle drugs to husband in the county jail is also in jail now.

Jennifer Atkinson, 37, 1701 Fort Ave., Muscle Shoals, is charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and second-degree promoting prison contraband, Colbert County Sheriff Ronnie May said.

Atkinson was caught throwing a package over the jail fence Thursday night.

May said the package, which was wrapped in electrical tape, contained tobacco, rolling papers and two bags of marijuana.

Atkinson’s husband, Christopher Atkinson, has been in the county jail since Nov. 15 on a probation violation. May said Jennifer Atkinson admitted trying to smuggle the drugs and tobacco to him.

“Officers had gotten word that someone might be trying to smuggle something in, so they were watching and she was seen throwing a package over the fence toward one of our inmate workers,” May said.

Jennifer Atkinson is being held on bail of $6,000.

Identity theft suspect caught

FLORENCE — Authorities said a woman accused of finding a person’s financial records at the recycling center and using them to make purchases is in custody.

Police said Friday that Nyokie “Chentea” Pratt Ewing, 35, whose last known address was on North Locust Street in Florence, was arrested Thursday in Russellville by the U.S. Marshals’ Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Ewing is charged with identity theft and second-degree theft of property.

Reports indicate a judge ordered Ewing to work at the Florence Recycling Center to pay off a fine. While there, she found documents that contained banking and checking account numbers.

Ewing is accused of using that information to make online purchases.

Burglary suspect in custody

MUSCLE SHOALS — A man police have been looking for in connection with a vehicle burglary is in custody.

Ronnie Carl Nelson Jr., 32, 701 SW 14th St., Sheffield, is charged with breaking and entering a motor vehicle and second-degree theft of property, police said Friday.

Nelson was taken into custody Friday afternoon by Sheffield police.

Nelson was seen on surveillance video and by a witness breaking into a Toyota truck Dec. 5.

He is being held in the Muscle Shoals City Jail.

Man injured in accident dies

LAWRENCEBURG, Tenn. — A man injured in a collision last week with a Lawrence County sheriff’s deputy’s vehicle on U.S. 64 has died at Vanderbilt Hospital.

Tennessee state troopers said Friday that Floyd Price, 72, of Lawrenceburg, died at the Nashville medical facility from injuries he sustained in the accident.

Price and his wife, Glenda, 69, were injured in the accident Nov. 28 on U.S. 64 near Robertson Road. The accident was reported about 6:30 p.m.

Deputy Brandon Smith, 22, Leoma, also was injured.

Officials said all three were flown from the scene to Vanderbilt Hospital. Smith was treated and later released. Troopers said Glenda Price remains in the hospital in serious condition.

Reports indicate Smith was traveling west on U.S. 64 and responding to a burglary call, while the Prices were traveling east on U.S. 64, attempting to turn onto Robertson Road.

Teen still in critical condition after fire

CHEROKEE — UAB Hospital officials said Friday that Kimberly Pounders remains in critical condition from injuries she sustained when she was trapped inside a burning house in Cherokee last Sunday.

UAB Hospital officials said Pounders’ condition is unchanged and she is still being treated in the facility’s burn center.

Pounders, 19, has autism.

State Fire Marshal Ed Paulk said Pounders, 86 Moody Lane, Cherokee, had severe burns and was flown to UAB Hospital’s burn center. Family friends said Pounders has burns to more than 50 percent of her body and that her lungs were severely burned.

Firefighters said Pounders was asleep in her bedroom, while her parents and some friends were outside the manufactured home talking.

Officials said the girl’s father, Freeman Pounders, used an ax to knock a hole in the side of the trailer and managed to rescue her.

Officials believe the fire was caused from an electrical problem.

Search continues for burglars

MUSCLE SHOALS — Police are trying to find the people responsible for taking more than $20,000 in merchandise from a local business.

Someone broke into Bestway Rent to Own on Woodward Avenue between Dec. 1 and Dec. 3 and took a variety of items.

“We’ve got a couple of leads, but so far nothing has materialized, and we’re asking for the public’s help,” Muscle Shoals police Lt. Seig Mueller said.

Mueller said the burglars broke into the business through the north door and removed the items through the back door.

According to reports, items taken included 17 televisions, 15 computers, computer game systems, iPods, iPads, a DVD player, stereo equipment, sound equipment and a mattress.

Anyone with any information is asked to call 256-383-6746 or Crime Stoppers at 256-386-8685.