Woman scares off would-be burglar

ANDERSON — Authorities said a homeowner took matters into her own hands Friday morning and chased away a would-be burglar by shooting at him.

Investigator Clifford Whitten, of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office, said the incident took place about 6 a.m. at a residence on Lauderdale 89, Anderson.

Reports indicate the 63-year-old homeowner had gotten out of bed and was walking through the house when she saw her kitchen light on.

“She said she looked and the kitchen window was raised,” Whitten said.

He said the woman told deputies she got her pistol and then saw her garage door open and a man inside the garage.

“She said she shot at the man as he was going through the garage window,” Whitten said. “She went to the window and shot again as he was running off.

“She scared him enough that he ran out of his cap.”

Whitten said deputies recovered a green baseball-style cap.

“She said he was wearing a gray-hooded sweatshirt and jeans and the cap,” Whitten said. “But he left the cap behind, and hopefully, we will be able to collect evidence from it that will help us identify the burglar.”

Nothing was taken during the attempted burglary.

Anyone with information is asked to call 256-760-5757 or Crime Stoppers at 256-386-8685.

TOM SMITH

Fire destroys Barton home

BARTON — Fire destroyed a manufactured home Thursday night.

Barton Volunteer Fire Chief William Hogeland said firefighters were able to keep about half of the structure standing.

He said the fire was reported about 7:27 p.m. at 620 Patrick Lane.

“The fire was really rolling when we got there,” Hogeland said. “We immediately began an aggressive attack and were able to cut it off and keep it from getting the entire house.”

He said the homeowner was at home when the fire started but got out and ran to a neighbor’s to call 911.

“He said he had started a fire in the wood stove, went back to lay down and then smelled smoke,” Hogeland said. “The man said when he got up to see what was going on the house was on fire. So, it looks like it started from the stove.”

TOM SMITH

Charges dismissed; man was in jail

MUSCLE SHOALS — A robbery charge against a Tuscumbia man was dismissed after it was determined he was in jail when the robbery took place.

Muscle Shoals police Lt. Seig Mueller said Marcus Maurice Jackson, 25, 1699 Neil Morris Road, Tuscumbia, was charged earlier this week with first-degree robbery in connection with the Jan. 14 armed robbery of the Sherwin-Williams store on Woodward Avenue.

Authorities said Jackson was picked from a lineup.

Mueller said the charge was dismissed after Jackson’s attorney, Billy Underwood, said he called Mueller and told him Jackson was in the Lauderdale County

Detention Center at the time the crime was committed.

“He’s not Houdini,” Underwood said.

Mueller investigated and found out the claim was true, so they withdrew the warrant and dropped charges Thursday, Underwood said.

TOM SMITH

ARRESTS

Colbert County sheriff

• Scatlett Joyl Allison, 27, 353 Johnson Drive, Cherokee; grand jury indictments for second-degree possession of a forged instrument and fraudulent use of a credit card.
  
  Jammie Edward Strickland, 23, 300 Church Loop Road, Cherokee; two counts of first-degree theft of property and one count of first-degree receiving stolen property.
• Daryl D. Nash, 25, 7397 Lauderdale 61, Florence; grand jury indictment for unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
• Brandon Russell McDonald, 25, 840 McDonald Drive, Tuscumbia; grand jury indictment for third-degree burglary.

Lauderdale County sheriff

• Sabrina Rebecca Simpson, 41, 3251 Hough Road, Florence; first-degree theft of property.

REPORTS

Florence police

Thefts

• A residence was damaged in the 100 block of Pamplin Avenue.
• A truck was damaged while parked in the 4000 block of Florence Boulevard.
• A wireless air card and $60 were taken from a residence on Locust Street.
• Clothes and shoes were take from a storage facility in the 2800 block of Florence Boulevard.
• Jewelry, a washer, dryer, garbage can, microwave, laundry supplies, pots, pans, CDs, television, DVD players, a camera, laptop, a push mower and a hand edger were taken from a residence on Glenn Mary Drive.

Burglaries

• A gold bracelet, checks, antique coins, two bottles of prescription pills and a plastic bag with coins were taken from a residence in the 100 block of Norwood Court.
• A computer and a printer were taken from a residence in the 200 block of North Eclipse Street.
• Two 9 mm pistols were taken from a residence on Norwood Boulevard.
• A heater and television were taken from a residence in the 100 block of Edgewood Drive.
• More than $100 was taken from a residence in the 700 block of West Mobile Street.
• A television and sound equipment were taken from a residence in the 400 block of West Mobile Street.

Criminal mischief

• A residence was damaged in the 1000 block of Colorado Avenue.