Public records
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on March 23, 2004 2:02 PM
Woman found
An elderly Hispanic woman from Kinston -- who wandered away from relatives Sunday and may be suffering from Alzheimer's disease -- was found about six hours later after an intense search, a Goldsboro police official said Monday.
Aurora Garcia, who is about 70 years old and does not speak English, was found in Wayne Memorial Hospital, Capt. Mike Hopper said.
She had left family members at about 2 p.m. in Lowe's. Relatives reported her missing about two hours later, say police.
Police searched nearby businesses that were open Sunday and followed leads but were always "a little bit behind," Hopper said. Neighbors and Pinewood volunteer firefighters also combed neighborhoods and backyards.
Hopper said an unidentified driver found the woman walking along Dr. M.L. King Jr. Expressway, the U.S. 70 bypass, near North Spence Avenue. The driver took the woman to church for a few hours and then to the hospital.
"We were worried at the time because all she had on was a light blouse and skirt," the major said.
Later the hospital was contacted and the woman was found there.
"It was a happy ending," Hopper said.
Fleeing driver hurt
A driver fleeing from authorities was injured and the car he was driving was demolished in a wreck at 9:05 p.m. Friday on Indian Springs Road near Emmaus Church Road, the Highway Patrol said.
Antonio Mendoza, 24, of Becton Circle was charged with felony fleeing to elude arrest, suspicion of driving while impaired, no operator's license, speeding, failure to heed blue lights or siren and resisting arrest.
The car, valued at $2,200, ran off the right side, struck a ditch and a power pole and overturned. Mendoza was treated and released from Wayne Memorial Hospital.
In a two-vehicle collision at 10:30 a.m. Monday at West Grantham and North Virginia streets, both drivers were injured, according to a Goldsboro police report. Icelean McLamb Sharpe, 30, of West Dudley Street, Warsaw, and Lendell Smith, 41, of Berry Street were released after emergency-room treatment.
Ms. Sharpe was charged with a safe-movement violation after, police said, she had tried to make a U-turn and her car had collided with Smith's eastbound auto. Smith was charged with driving while his license was revoked. Damages were put at $800.
TV, stereo stolen
A television, compact discs and stereo equipment were stolen between Jan. 15 and Monday from a rental storage unit at 4491 Wayne Memorial Drive, a Wayne County sheriff's report said. The thief had removed the lock in order to enter the unit.
The renter, Thomas Eugene Dawson of Goldsboro, put a $1,030 value on his property that included four speakers, an equalizer and a receiver.
Break-in
A teen-ager was arrested Monday by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and charged with three felony offenses in connection with a break-in at a neighbor's home.
Khalil Briheem Elam, 18, of Perry Farm Lane was charged with breaking and entering, larceny and possession of stolen goods. He was placed in the Wayne County Jail in lieu of a $10,000 secured bond.
Elam was accused of stealing DVD movies and video-game equipment, Detective Sgt. Carl Lancaster said. The property was recovered and will be returned to the owner. Detective Sgt. Shawn Harris assisted in the case.
Teen missing
A teen-aged girl from Goldsboro has been reported missing by relatives to Goldsboro police. Charley Lynn Wiggs, 14, of 1917 N. Berkeley Blvd. was described as white, 5-feet-1 and 150 pounds with brown-blonde hair and green eyes.
When she was seen last at 7 p.m. Monday, she was wearing a white and green shirt, black pants, white athletic shoes and a red coat. Anyone with information her location was asked to call police at 736-4933.