The following is police activity that resulted in documentation by Jemison Police from Oct. 13 to Oct. 19:

Wednesday

•Burglary and theft of property, 11,000th block of County Road 42

•Burglary and theft of property, 500th block of County Road 151

•Served two arrest warrants for failure to appear in court

Thursday

•Theft of property, 900th block of County Road 38

•Served arrest warrant for failure to appear in court

Friday

•Theft of property, 1,000th block of County Road 135

•Sexual abuse investigation, 1,000th block of Alabama Highway 155

•Death investigation, 2,000th block of County Road 25, natural causes

Saturday

•Death investigation, County Road 44, natural causes

•Vehicle accident with a deer, 1,000th block of County Road 38

•Recovery of drug evidence, County Road 51 and 163, traffic stop, two arrested

Sunday

•No documented activity

Monday

•Theft of property, 25,000th block of U.S. Highway 31

•Private property accident, Jemison Middle School parking lot, no injuries

Tuesday

•Disorderly conduct, 25,000th block of U.S. Highway 31

By Stephen Dawkins

“Policeman” and “fireman” might be two popular careers among children enticed by flashing lights and fire hoses, but not many people really have what it takes.

A program being implemented in Jemison will allow young adults to decide whether they want to go into public safety.

A meeting will be held Saturday at Jemison Fire Department to kick off the city’s Public Safety Exploring program, which is an initiative of Boy Scouts of America.

“A lot of people may think they want to be a fireman, but the day in, day out stuff of that job can give people an idea of, ‘Is this really what I want to do?’” Jemison Fire Chief John Dennis said.

The program is designed for those 14-18, or through 21 if the person is still a student. Participants partner with local public safety departments to get an idea of what the jobs actually entail.

Even if some Explorers decide they don’t want to be a firefighter or police officer, something is still accomplished.

“It gives us an opportunity to help mold some character and some values in those students,” said Dennis, who has been involved with the Exploring program for 25 years.

Participants would meet once a week and receive training on CPR, first responder tactics, biological hazards and basic law enforcement, such as directing traffic. They would also “shadow” Jemison police officers and firefighters as they go through their daily routines.

“We’ll use them for a lot of events around the city to help with parking and traffic,” Dennis said. “Hopefully, we can be a model for other fire departments around the county, for them to use to help boost their programs.”

The program also leads into scholarship opportunities through Boy Scouts Learning For Life.

Dennis said flyers have been posted at Jemison High School. Anyone interested should call Dennis at 688-4492.

By Stephen Dawkins

Two women charged with theft by Jemison Police are also suspects in at least 14 additional felony cases in four counties.

Oletha Dansley, 46, of Mobile was arrested on Aug. 16 by Demopolis Police. Dansley and Latonya Anderson, 40, of Birmingham allegedly stole purses from business owners.

In a scheme that was repeated at various locations, Anderson and Dansley reportedly entered a Jemison business on July 23. One of the suspects distracted the business owner while the other suspect took the owner’s purse.

“These two suspects were very good at what they were doing,” Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer said. “There are others that use this same distraction and theft technique who mainly target small businesses. I want to…make all business owners aware of this type crime and hopefully prevent others from becoming a victim.”

The business owner discovered her purse missing and reported the theft to Jemison Police. The victim’s credit card was used at various locations in Clanton, Millbrook, Montgomery and Prattville, and purchases totaled $2,900
Jemison Deputy Chief and Investigator Marc McMinn, with the help of Clanton Police investigators, was able to identify the suspects and file charges.

After Anderson has faced charges in Demopolis, she would be extradited on the Jemison’s felony theft of property charges.

Anderson and Dansley also face at least 12 felony “fraudulent use of a credit card” charges that span four counties.

“We have submitted our information across the entire state of Alabama and have been contacted by additional agencies,” Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer said. “We expect that other cases across the state will be solved as well.”

The following is an activity report of the Jemison Police Department from Wednesday Aug. 25 through Tuesday Aug. 31, 2010:

Wednesday, Aug. 25
•Property dispute, 900 block of Alabama Hwy. 191
•Burglary and theft of property, 800 block of County Rd. 131
•Domestic violence, 1000 block of County Road 152, one arrested
•Drug related arrest, traffic stop, I-65 218-mile marker
•Served arrest warrant for failure to appear in court

Thursday, Aug. 26
•Property damage, County Road 38
•Served six arrest warrants for failure to appear in court

Friday, Aug. 27
•Domestic violence, 2,000 block of Alabama Hwy. 191, one arrested
•Failure to pay for gasoline, 12,000 block of County Road 42

Saturday, Aug. 28
•Served two arrest warrants for failure to appear in court

Sunday, Aug. 29
•Theft of property, 2,000 block of Ellison Road, one arrested
•Theft of property, 300 block of County Road 151

Monday, Aug. 30
•Criminal mischief, 100 block of Main Street
•Identity theft, 100 block of County Road 44
•Served two arrest warrants for failure to appear in court
•Two vehicle accidents, US Hwy. 31 and Alabama Hwy, 155, no injuries

Tuesday, Aug. 31
•Criminal mischief, Cassy Circle
•Served two arrest warrants for failure to appear in court

By Stephen Dawkins

Jemison’s new Municipal Complex is benefitting the city’s police force — and other local officers.

The first half of a statement analysis training course was held in the Complex auditorium earlier this month, and the second session is scheduled for Sept. 23.

“There is a technique you can use in analyzing those statements to tell if they are being truthful or deceptive,” Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer said. “You can use this on victim statements as well.”

All law enforcement officers in Alabama are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education courses per year. The course at Jemison, which was taught by instructors from Auburn University at Montgomery, will cover 16 hours worth of material.

“My philosophy is if you don’t get the training and have the tools to do the job, you can’t do the job as successfully as you need to,” Fulmer said.

Fifty-seven officers from local and state agencies attended the training.

“This class went very well, and I believe these officers, after receiving this type training, will be very prepared and able to do their job much more efficiently,” Fulmer said and also thanked Deputy Chief Marc McMinn for scheduling the training.

Fulmer also said he is pleased Jemison was able to host such a course.

Fulmer’s officers normally would have to travel to receive training, so hosting it saves the city money. The course also serves as an opportunity for out-of-towners to see Jemison.

“We now have our own facilities that will accommodate large groups of people, and we are excited about being able to offer these training classes,” Fulmer said.

By Stephen Dawkins

With the council chambers inside the Jemison Municipal Complex almost filled to capacity, the city’s council spent most of Monday’s meeting recognizing some of the community’s most outstanding members.

“I think this is the first time since we’ve been in the new building that we’ve had a packed house,” Jemison Mayor Eddie Reed said about the more than 50 people in attendance.

First up was Jemison Elementary School teacher Christin Starr Bashaw, who was named Chilton County Teacher of the Year. Bashaw was presented a plaque by the council.

Next was Tommy Lenoir, coach of Jemison’s 12-year-old Dizzy Dean baseball all-star team. The team over the weekend was invited to participate in the Dizzy Dean World Series tournament, a trip that Lenoir estimated would cost from $5,000-$8,000.

The council voted to donate $2,000, and state representative Jimmy Martin made contributions of both state funds and his own money.

“I have been astounded at how the community has responded to this,” Lenoir said. “We’re living a pipe dream, so we don’t want to come back with anything less than a World Series championship.”

Martin also presented a grant for $25,000 to the Jemison Police Department for the installation of e-ticket hardware in police cruisers.

After most of the 50 attendees had taken their leaves, the council got down to more pressing business.

Reed told three members of the Oak Grove community that roads in their area could be paved as soon as Friday.

Donna Bice presented a petition to the council that included the signatures of six residents on Railroad Street, asking that a speed breaker be installed on their road. The council voted to grant their request.

The council also approved Tammy Miller as court clerk/magistrate for Jemison Municipal Court and approved Shelia Hogge as the new city clerk, replacing Mary Ellison, who is retiring.

“We look forward to working with Ms. Hogge, and we would like thank Ms. Ellison for her years of service,” Reed said.

The council voted to approve a vehicle belonging to the police department as salvage. People now have the opportunity to place bids on the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria, which will be displayed near city hall.

Lastly, the council adjusted the water bill of Betty Adams before voting to pay the bills and adjourning.

The following is an activity report of the Jemison Police Department from Wednesday, June 30 through Tuesday, July 6, 2010:

Wednesday, June 30
•One vehicle accident on Chilton County 42 West and Alabama 191. One injury.

Thursday, July 1
•Theft of property   from the 12,000th block of Chilton County 42.
•Theft of property  and criminal trespass from the  300th block of Chilton County 132
•Served two warrants for failure to appear in court.

Friday, July 2
•Violation of protection order from the 600th block of Collum Street
•Property damage from the 100th block of Chilton County126
•Theft of property from the  200th block of Chilton County 854
•Failure to pay for gasoline at Sue’s Mart on Alabama 191.
•Two vehicle accident on I-65 South, exit 219 ramp. No injuries.

Saturday, July 3
•Arrest for public intoxication from U.S. 31 and Chilton County 44
•Served two warrants for failure to appear in court
•Two vehicle accident  on Chilton County 42 East.  No injuries.

Saturday, July 5
•Domestic violence and disorderly conduct  from the 15,000th block of Chilton County 29. One arrested.

Saturday, July 6
•Child custody dispute  from the 100th block of Chilton County 770
•Arrest for public intoxication on Chilton County 179
•Served eight warrants for failure to appear in court

The following is an activity report of the Jemison Police Department from Wednesday, May 26 through Tuesday, June 1, 2010:

Wednesday, May 26
•Five warrants served for failure to appear in court

Thursday, May 27
•Harassment: 2,200th block of Alabama Highway 191
•Property damage: 11,000th block of County Road 42
•Arrest warrant served for menacing
•Outstanding warrant served for failure to appear in court
•Theft of property/fraudulent use of a credit card: 8,000th block of County Road 42

Friday, May 28
•Shoplifting: Hayes Drug (one arrested)
•Theft of property: Sycamore Street
Saturday, May 29
•Felony assault: Dixon Circle (one arrested)
•Vehicle fire/property damage: 300th block of Sycamore Street
•Identity theft: 15,000th block of Chilton County Road 51

Sunday, May 30
•Unlawful breaking into a vehicle/theft of property: Padgett Lane

Monday, May 31
•Arrest for public intoxication: Atkinson Street and Webb Street
•Death investigation: 8,000th block of County Road 42 East
•Outstanding warrant served for failure to appear in court

Tuesday, June 1
•Harassment: 24,000th block of U.S. Highway 31
•Five outstanding warrants served for failure to appear in court

By Justin Averette

A 31-year-old man wanted for car theft was arrested Thursday following a brief manhunt in Thorsby.

Clanton Police arrested Mario Alberto Avalos following a one-and-a-half hour search around 2 p.m. Thursday.

Avalos fled into a wooded area as Clanton detectives and Thorsby police drove up to a home in the 1100th block of Indiana Avenue, according to Clanton Police Chief Brian Stilwell.

Officers were going to the address to arrest Avalos on theft of property charges for allegedly stealing a car from Inverness Drive in Clanton.

“His home was at the end of the road, and he saw the police officers coming,” said Stilwell. “I am sure he knew why they were there.”

Chilton County sheriff’s deputies and police officers from Thorsby and Jemison responded to the area, while the sheriff office’s tracking dog began following the suspect.

While the dog was tracking the suspect, a Jemison city employee saw a Hispanic man run out of the woods off Ellison Road, Stilwell said.

The employee contacted Jemison police. Jemison officers, Clanton detectives and sheriff deputies responded to the area.

Avalos was arrested following a brief foot pursuit into the woods, Stilwell said. He is currently in the Chilton County Jail on $20,000 bond.

Avalos was traced back to the Thorsby address from information collected from a car junkyard in another county.

Stilwell thanked Thorsby PD, Jemison PD, and the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office for their help in catching Avalos.

“We are glad he is off the street and in jail, and no one got hurt, Stilwell said.

By Stephen Dawkins

Two recent Jemison burglaries, and subsequent arrests, should show businesses the importance of an up-to-date video surveillance system, city Police Chief Shane Fulmer said.

The press box at City Park was broken into on April 25, and a vehicle was broken into at a convenience store near Interstate 65 Exit 219 on April 28. Because video footage was available to investigators, arrests were made within five days of the crimes in both instances.

“The video in both of these cases allowed us to track down these individuals,” Fulmer said. “Many businesses don’t have video at all, and some have systems that are out of date.

“I can’t stress enough the importance of these systems.”

Jose Rodriguez, 24, and Joshua Crumpton, 21, both of Montevallo, were arrested on April 30 and charged with felony burglary and criminal mischief.

The pair allegedly broke into the park press box and damaged a metal box—which turned out to be part of the park’s surveillance system.

Officers were still able to recover the footage.

“We’ve been having some problems at the park, but the officers have been doing a great job keeping that in check, making extra patrols,” Fulmer said.

Brandon Blankenship, 26, of Jemison was arrested on April 29, one day after he allegedly entered a woman’s unlocked vehicle at a fuel station and took her purse while she was inside the store.

Blankenship was charged with breaking and entering a vehicle and second-degree theft of property, both of which are felonies.