Public records
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on July 26, 2004 1:56 PM
Home destroyed
A wood-frame home at 3611 U.S. 13 South was destroyed today before dawn by a fire caused by an electrical failure in the kitchen, a fire official said. The resident, Ginger Casey, was awakened by a pet dog and escaped unharmed.
When Grantham firefighters arrived within five minutes of the 5:47 a.m. call, they found the home engulfed in flames.
"It was terrible," said Grantham Fire Chief Ted Grantham. "It could've been worse. They have a lot to be thankful for."
The value of the home and contents had not been determined, Grantham said.
About 17 Grantham volunteers responded with five trucks. Jordans Chapel firefighters assisted. They controlled the fire after 6 a.m. and remained until about 8 a.m., investigating the cause and finishing salvage work.
Red Cross and rescue personnel also went to the home to offer aid.
Barn fire
A tobacco barn at 207 Combs Road was destroyed Saturday night in a fire caused by a burner malfunction, a fire official said today.
Belfast Fire Chief Chris Gurley credited the quick action by the owner, Dwight Perry, in preventing a bigger blaze. He said Perry turned off the fan and electricity.
Gurley also said Patetown Fire Chief John Gardner, the first person to arrive, "had a whole lot to do in saving" the other buildings. Gurley said Patetown volunteers were "a big asset" in battling the fire.
The destroyed barn was valued at $4,500 and the tobacco at $4,100, Gurley said. The entire barn complex was valued at $85,000 and contents were valued at $29,000.
Twenty-two Belfast firefighters answered the 9:50 p.m. alarm with five trucks. Patetown assisted with about 20 people and four trucks.
Drug charges
Four people were arrested over the weekend by Wayne County authorities and charged with felony drug offenses.
*Matthew Lee Johnson, 20, of Misty Lane was charged Saturday night by Wayne County sheriff's officers with possession with intent to sell cocaine. He also was charged with outstanding Goldsboro police warrants for felony fleeing to elude arrest, driving while his license was revoked, reckless driving, hit and run and two counts of speeding. He was placed in the Wayne County Jail in lieu of a $200,000 secured bond.
*Vanessa Johnson, 40, of West Grantham Street was arrested early Sunday by Goldsboro police in the Wayne Motel and charged with possession with intent to sell cocaine. She was jailed in lieu of a $25,000 secured bond.
*Kimberly Allen Henderson, 40, of Clayton and Leigh Anne Sizemore, 44, of East Elm Street were arrested early Sunday by police at the Wayne Motel and charged with possession of cocaine. Each was jailed in lieu of a $5,000 secured bond.
Firearms stolen
A safe with eight firearms was stolen before dawn today from a home in the 3000 block of N.C. 111 North, according to a Wayne County Sheriff's Office report.
The resident, Anthony Wayne Crumpler, reported the theft of .357, .22 and .38 caliber revolvers, a .22 target pistol, a .22 competition pistol, a .22 automatic and a .38 caliber pistol. They were valued at $2,403. He also reported the loss of the safe, valued at $200.
Another man, Paul Edward Werkmester of Walters Drive, said a .38 pistol, valued at $3,000, also was stolen.
King appeals
Louretha Mae King, who was sentenced to a total of 40 to 48 months after being convicted of 11 fraud charges, has filed an appeal to the N.C. Court of Appeals.
Judge Jack Hooks, who presided over last week's trial in Wayne County Superior Court, ordered that Ms. King be held without bond pending the appeal.
Hooks also ordered Ms. King to pay restitution to her victims -- Marie Scott, Debra Hood, James Hamm, Lowe's Home Improvement Center and Friedman's Jewelers -- if she is granted work release.
Ms. King was convicted of five felony counts of obtaining property by false pretense and one felony count each of passing a worthless check, financial identity fraud, conspiracy to obtain property by false pretense, forgery, uttering and use of a false driver's license to commit a felony.
She also is being held in lieu of a $250,000 secured bond on other felony fraud charges.
Shooting
A Goldsboro teen-ager has been charged with firing a weapon into a neighbor's home on North Carolina Street.
Cornelius D. Weeks, 16, of North Carolina Street was charged with discharge of a weapon into occupied property and two misdemeanors, assault with a deadly weapon and injury to personal property. He was placed in the Wayne County Jail in lieu of a $16,000 secured bond.
Goldsboro police said Weeks had argued with the resident, DeCarlos Lopez Hamilton, and then started shooting toward the home as Hamilton stood in the doorway. No one was injured. Three bullets were recovered.
Traffic accidents
*A driver was charged with driving while impaired at 1:25 a.m. Sunday after his car rammed a light pole at North Jackson and East Maple streets, Goldsboro police said. Russell Don Galipp, 21, of Wright Brothers Avenue was not injured as he tried to make a left turn. Damage was set at $8,000 to his car.
*Damages were estimated at $11,000 at 2:20 p.m. Saturday at North Spence Avenue and an exit ramp from the U.S. 70 bypass, police said. Carl Lionel Simmons, 39, of Mitchell Road, Dudley, was charged with a stoplight violation. The other motorist was identified as Betsy M. Kornegay, 19, of Holland Hill Drive.
*A man on a bicycle was injured at 3:10 p.m. Friday when he was struck by a car at East Ash Street and North Jefferson Avenue, police said. Shawn Cooley, 34, of East Ash Street was released after emergency-room treatment. Celestine C. Walker, 53, of East End Circle, was charged with a safe-movement violation. Police said she had started a right turn and her car collided with the westbound bike. Damages were put at $150.
*Damages were estimated at $8,000 in a three-vehicle crash at 3:10 p.m. Friday at Old Grantham and Woodland Church roads, the Highway Patrol said. Two drivers, Christy Latonya Reid, 25, of Kenly and Tawana Timeka Yelverton, 28, of East Maple Street, were charged with failure to reduce speed after the rear-end crash. The other motorist was identified as Christopher Andrae Johnson, 24, of Central Heights Road,
*Two drivers were injured and damages were put at $11,000 at 5 p.m. Friday at N.C. 111 and Cedar Creek Drive, the Highway Patrol said. Frances Thomas Hinson, 68, of Yearling Drive, and Wonda F. Hamilton, 39, of N.C. 111 North, were released after emergency-room treatment. Ms. Hinson was charged with a yield violation.
Thefts
Wayne County sheriff's deputies are investigating these reports:
*About $2,000, a $150 savings bond, an onyx ring, a platinum watch, a diamond watch, a safe and personal papers were stolen from a home in the 400 block of Genoa Road. The resident, Milton M. Wade, put a $1,639 value on the property, in addition to the cash.
*Hand tools, two air wrenches, two shotguns and a nail gun were stolen from a burned-out shelter in the 500 block of Rollingwood Drive. The owner, Willie Morrison, said his property was worth $1,750.
*A baseball glove, candy and soft drinks were stolen after a door was damaged at Rosewood Worship Center at 2103 O'Berry Center Road. The property was valued at $126. Damage was set at $300.
*A pressure washer, two safety harnesses and welding leads were stolen from General Industries at 3048 Thoroughfare Road. The thief had cut locks from a storage building to get the property. A push cart used to take the items was recovered. The stolen property was valued at $1,025.
Investigations
Goldsboro police are investigating these reports:
*Six cell phones were stolen Sunday from Creative Cellular at 625 N. Berkeley Blvd. The phones were valued at $1,321.
*A leather coat, a diamond necklace, three watches, a gold chain and a DVD-VCR combination were stolen Saturday from a home in the 800 block of Paul Street. The resident, J.J. Artis, said the property was worth more than $1,550.
*A cell phone, $140, two purses, an electronic organizer and personal papers were stolen Sunday after a door was damaged at a home in the 200 block of West Ash Street. The resident, Joseph Ruggery, estimated the property's value at $440.
*A 2000 green, four-door Ford Expedition was stolen from the 1200 block of U.S. 117 South. The owner, Martha Sosa of New Port Richey, Fla., said she had stopped for gas and went inside to pay and her passenger then drove away. The vehicle was valued at $29,000.
Correction
The name of a man charged with two counts of communicating threats and listed in Sunday's Public Records should have read Othaniel Britt Jr.