Public records
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on May 20, 2004 1:59 PM
Four hurt in wrecks
Four people were injured and damages were estimated at $38,575 in eight recent traffic collisions in Wayne County, officers reported.
*A driver was injured at 8:50 p.m. Tuesday in the Pinewood Square parking lot, Goldsboro police said. Kimberly Nicole Joyce, 17, of Wanda Drive, Pikeville, was treated and released from Wayne Memorial Hospital. The other driver, who was leaving a parking place, Douglas Austin Locke, 26, of Bolling Drive, was charged with a safe-movement violation. Damages were put at $3,500.
*A teen-ager trying to remove lip balm from his pocket fell from his motor scooter and was injured at 4:50 p.m. Tuesday on Humphrey Street, police said. Kevin Collier Posey, 17, of North Drive was released after emergency-room treatment.
*Damages were estimated at $5,000 at 3:05 p.m. Tuesday on U.S. 117 near Southern Wayne Road, the Highway Patrol said. Jaimie Lee Niemond, 17, of West Steele Street, Mount Olive, was charged with failure to reduce speed after the rear-end crash. The other motorist was identified as Meghan Nicole Slaughter, 17, of Crest Drive, Mount Olive.
*A motorist said he fell asleep at about 11:20 a.m. Tuesday and the pickup truck he was driving ran off the left side of Bill Lane Boulevard and smashed into trees, the Highway Patrol said. Carroll McGee Strickland, 63, of Sheridan Road was not injured, but he was charged with driving left of center. The pickup, valued at $4,000, was demolished.
*Damages were estimated at $6,500 at 3:51 p.m. Friday at Big Daddy's and Lancaster roads, the Highway Patrol said. A southbound driver, Billie Jo Wallace, 31, of U.S. 13 South, LaGrange, was charged with a yield violation. Troopers said Ms. Wallace stopped and then started across the intersection. The sport utility vehicle that she was driving collided with a westbound car driven by Ignacio Avila Vega, 39, of Antioch Road, Pikeville.
*A turning car collided with a Wayne County school bus at 3:07 p.m. May 13 at U.S. 70 and Leslie Road, the Highway Patrol said. A passenger in the car, Angela Allen, 25, of Laura Avenue, Princeton, was the only person reported injured. She was released after emergency-room treatment. Her driver, Charles Anthony Howell, 18, of Sandy Ridge Road, was charged with reckless driving. The southbound bus, operated by Marie J. Miller, 59, of Oakland Church Road, Princeton, with seven student passengers, had stopped for a stop sign. Troopers said Howell made a wide right turn and braked but the car he was driving collided with the bus. Damage was set at $4,500 to the bus and $4,000 to the car.
*A driver was injured and damages were estimated at $6,075 in a two-vehicle crash at 5:45 p.m. May 12 on Community Drive near N.C. 581, the Highway Patrol said. Kimberly Shannon Todd, 28, of Rhonda Place was released after emergency-room treatment. Ms. Todd also was charged with failure to reduce speed after the car she was driving collided with the rear of a minivan operated by Ellen C. Verceles Zara, 48, of Marie Avenue. Troopers said Ms. Zara had slowed because of ducks were crossing the road.
*Damages were estimated at $11,400 in a three-car wreck at 6 p.m. May 11 at U.S. 117 and Mount Carmel Church Road, the Highway Patrol said. One driver, Mario Alberto Cruz Gutierrez, 19, of Nancy Drive, Dudley, was charged with failure to reduce speed after the rear-end crash. The other motorists were identified as Jettye Scott Suggs, 61, of Vance Drive and Corey Edward Drotzur, 44, of Darby Road.
Investigations
Wayne County law-enforcement officers are investigating these reports:
*Fifteen $100 bills were stolen Wednesday from a sleeping man's pants pocket, sheriff's deputies said. Charles Ray Lindberg Jr. of Glennfield Road, Snow Hill, reported that the theft occurred in an apartment in the 3800 block of Wayne Memorial Drive.
*A stereo was stolen from a car in the 600 block of East New Hope Road, Goldsboro police said. The thief had damaged a door lock and the dashboard in order to take the stereo. The resident and owner, Jerley Kosier, put a $200 value on his stereo and set damage at $400.
*A welder was stolen from the automotive classroom at Wayne Community College, police said. The welder was valued at $1,540.48.
Drug operation
SMITHFIELD -- Nineteen people have been arrested and charged by federal and Johnston County authorities with distributing large quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine in Johnston County.
The people were accused of distributing the drugs in Princeton, Smithfield, Selma, Micro, Clayton, Four Oaks and Kenly. Princeton Police Chief Eddie Lewis said Wednesday that none of the defendants were Princeton residents.
Seven defendants have been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. The others were awaiting their trials or sentencing.