Cornelius Antwon Benton has been captured, arrested and charged with CAPITAL MURDER after 3 yr man hunt

On November 13, 2008 the Dothan Police Department responded to a shooting at 1021 Blackshear Street just after 2:00 p.m. The victim, Chris Woods was transported to a local hospital where he died shortly after arrival.  

 Following the homicide investigation, Dothan Police signed warrants against Tawuan Townes who was quickly arrested and Cornelius Antwon Benton who has been on the run and remained at large since 2008.

On August 6, 2011Dothan Police cancelled the long standing BOLO for Cornelius Antwon Benton following his capture in Okaloosa County, Florida. 

Limited details of the capture are being released until members of the victims’ family are briefed however the Dothan Police Department would like to thank Crestview Police Department for their assistance in the capture as well as the U.S. Marshal Gulf Coast Regional Task Force and many, many other agencies that have assisted in various missions conducted since 2008 in an effort to apprehend Benton.  

·        Cornelius Antwon Benton, black male, 26 years of age, has been captured, arrested and charged with CAPITAL MURDER. Extradition from Florida to Alabama may occur as early as August 8, 2011.

NEW UPDATE : Dead Body Found in car : ARREST HAS BEEN MADE

 UPDATE:

On August 17, 2011 an autopsy confirmed the victim was killed by a single gunshot wound. The victim was positively identified as Milton Bernard Jones 29 years old of Dothan, Alabama. The Investigative Division has now made an arrest in this case. Investigators have worked tirelessly on this case following numerous leads which led them to the original crime scene and ultimately to the suspect. Limited details will be released about the evidence and statements which led police to the crime scene until the case is taken to court however police say crime scene technicians processed the interior and exterior property of 803 LaGrand Drive collecting multiple pieces of evidence believed to be left behind during the homicide. Investigators say 48 year old Gregory Leon Lawton of Shannondoah Drive has been charged with Capital Murder. The Investigative Division says the case will remain open as they continue to develop more information on the case.

·        Gregory Leon Lawton, black male, 48 years of age, of Shannondoah Drive was arrested and charged with Capital Murder with no bond.

UPDATE:

On August 16, 2011 the Dothan Police Department responded to a 911 call which was received at 9:23 a.m. in regards to a medical emergency at the intersection of Leila Drive and Alexander Drive. Upon arrival, the first officer on scene quickly realized the victim was deceased and requested additional officers as he began securing the area, and vehicle, a silver Pontiac Grand Prix as a possible crime scene. Criminal Investigators responded and following the preliminary investigation stated the victim appeared to have been shot but transported the vehicle and body to a forensic lab for processing and confirmation.

Investigators have now officially changed the call from a medical emergency to a homicide. Police say the victim was killed by a single gunshot wound. The identity of the victim will not been released until all appropriate family notifications are made.

This homicide investigation is in the earliest stages and police are asking anyone with information about the case or identity of the suspect to call the Dothan Police Department or CrimeStoppers 334-793-7000. Based on evidence found at the crime scene, police believe the homicide likely occurred at another location after which the vehicle and body were moved. We urge the public to call with any detail they may have in regards to suspicious behavior of persons or similar vehicles (Silver Pontiac Grand Prix) at this or any other location over the past forty-eight hours.

PREVIOUSE
 At 9:23 am Dothan Police and Dothan Fire responded to a vehicle with a black make found dead on Leila Drive/Alexander Drive. It appears that the person is dead from gunshot wound. At this time Law Enforcement does not know if this is a suicide death or a murder.

Update:
We have multiple officers on scene at the intersection of Leila and Alexander Drive. A dead body has been found in a vehicle in that location. It appears to be a gunshot, however that has NOT been confirmed yet. If confirmed it is UNKNOWN if it is a homicide or suicide. CID has just arrived and will be working to determine this.

Dothan Police Needs your Help- Alabama Title Loans Robbery

At approximately 2:20 p.m. on August 13, 2011 the Dothan Police Department responded to a robbery at Alabama Title Loans (1020 Montgomery Highway). Upon arrival, police learned an employee was leaving the business with a bank bag tucked under her arm when the suspect approached her, pulled the bag from her, pushed her, then fled on foot. Police are asking anyone with information about the case or identity of the suspect described as a black male to call the Dothan Police Department or CrimeStoppers 334-793-7000.

Alabama Medical Marjuana Coalition meets at Blue Springs State Park

August 13 2011, AMMJC found their way to Blue Springs State Park in Clio, Alabama for our District #7 Picnic. What a beautiful place with a great family atmosphere. If you get the chance to go check it out do it, and go swimming in the crystal clear spring pools. (68 degrees years round!) Even in the dead of winter. The locals told us it looks like a steaming cauldron when winter time rolls around.

Honestly, DJ and I got wet up to the knees but that was it, THAT WATER IS COLD! The kids didn’t mind a bit though. They went swimming and had a blast. One of the State Park Officials Mark Jernigan told the children; “You can’t walk in, you have to jump in. If you walk in you can’t make yourself get in.” He was right! Brrrr!
We met an awful lot of new faces and got to finally meet some people personally that have supported us AMMJC from the start. We thank you all for coming out and supporting the patients of Alabama. From the bottom of my heart I say; We couldn’t do this without you guys. AMMJC is only as strong as the people we have on the ground and that force is getting stronger every day. Please continue to send friend suggestions to our Alabama Mmjc profile! Continue adding your friends, family, elected officials and persons you know supports this case to our facebook group page. In this beginning phase of the organization we need everyone who supports medical marijuana to be aware of AMMJC and lend their support in areas where they can.



As many of you know, Alabama Medical Marijuana Coalition has been in negotiations with Representative K.L Brown virtually since we started. He came out to our last picnic in Jacksonville; he talked to patients and members of the AMMJC staff and was very optimistic about the future of medical marijuana in Alabama.

Representative Brown recommended no changes to the legislation that we presented to him, which is Americans for Safe Access’ State Model Legislation. We had made some changes to their original before we presented it to Rep. Brown, but that was mainly just adding some conditions for which a doctor could recommend medical marijuana, among those were Lupus, Tourette’s syndrome, PSTD and inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s & Colitis).
We had looked at a lot of legislation before deciding what to go with. The laws are different in many ways, but there are, basically, two types of medical marijuana laws and legislation.
First, there are the laws that are so liberal that they are almost impossible to enforce. The amounts of marijuana allowed and the regulations they recommend make it impossible to regulate, and is just seen as a backdoor to general legalization.
Second, there are the laws that appear that someone is just trying to get something, anything, passed. Laws that would be impossible for a patient to follow, and would probably end up with the same problem we have now, which is patients going to jail.
Then there was the ASA legislation. It was in the middle. It was more liberal towards patients and the protection of their rights, but at the same time, it is easy to regulate.

This is our plan for the legislation.
Now is the time to push!!!
Now we have a sponsor and we have a plan for the legislation. Part of that plan is to get the bill out of the gate early.
Representative Brown and AMMJC want to pre-file our bill just as soon as we can talk to the health department. That way we should be able to get an early committee hearing and ensure that we have time to get the bill all the way through the legislature.
That means that we need to start now. With this plan, we will not have the luxury of waiting for the session to start.
Over the weekend, we are going to be putting together a plan to launch our legislative effort with a “Write your legislator campaign.” We will put together a sample letter that you can use as a guide to write your own letter, copy-paste-send, or for you to use along with your reasons for supporting medical marijuana. We will have this information out by Monday.
We need every legislator in the state to get at least a half dozen letters next week. That can only happen if you do your part and encourage others to do theirs. We can do this; we can change the law and the lives of patients in Alabama.

vehicular accident driver of the truck involved trying to make an escape by swimming across White Oak Creek

BY PENNY CARTER

 

A vehicular accident that occurred on Saturday, August 13, had the driver of the truck involved trying to make an escape by swimming across White Oak Creek not far from the bridge on Highway 95.

 

Around 4:50 p.m. Saturday, an unsuspecting female driver was hit as she passed Midlake Bait and Tackle and Holly Drive on Highway 95 just inside the Henry County line across the creek from Barbour County.

 

Mrs. Helen Copeland, the driver of the Toyota Camry that was involved, was transported by Abbeville Rescue to Medical Center Barbour in Eufaula for treatment of injuries sustained during the accident.

 

It was believed at the time that alcohol may have played a role in the accident and the attempted escape of the driver.

 

As soon as the vehicles came to a stop from the collision, the driver of the truck, Marion Porterfield Jr., jumped out and ran down Holly Drive, trying to escape from witnesses that engaged in a foot pursuit of the suspect. They  were soon joined by Henry County Sheriff's Deputies on a Yamaha Rhino in the hunt for the driver of the truck. Porterfield  jumped into White Oak Creek in an attempt to evade capture, but was soon picked up by Alabama Marine Police that responded to the scene to lend assistance.  The suspect was transported to Medical Center Barbour for treatment.

 

Henry County Sheriff Deputy Culpepper confirmed that the suspect had been caught by the Marine Police within minutes of entering the water.

 

Henry County EMA Director Paul Brown was on site along with Henry County Sheriff's Deputies, Screamer Volunteer Fire Department, Abbeville Rescue, and Alabama State Troopers.

 

Residents of the area, Howard and Juanita Money, both agreed that the section of the road from White Oak bridge to the entrance of Sunset Acres, located on Highway 95, is a very dangerous area.

 

“This isn't the first accident that's happened on this curve,” Mr. Money commented.  “Cars go flying through here going well above the speed limit, crossing the center line at times.

Alabama AG praises ruling on health care mandate

Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange has praised a federal appeals court ruling that struck down the requirement in President Barack Obama's health care overhaul package that virtually all Americans must have health insurance.
A three judge panel in Atlanta in its ruling Friday sided with Alabama and 25 other states in striking down the so-called individual mandate in the health care law.
Strange says the 11th Circuit ruling helps protect the system of "federalism and limited government" created by the framers of the U.S. Constitution.
Strange called the effort to block the individual mandate "a monumental case."
The decision was written by Chief Judge Joel Dubina and Circuit Judge Frank Hull. The decision found that the individual mandate exceeds the power of Congress.

Who's been Bad in Ozark....AUGUST 10, 2011 – WEDNESDAY

OZARK POLICE DEPARTMENT
DAILY BULLETIN 

AUGUST 10, 2011 – WEDNESDAY:
@ 5:01 am. Domestic Violence 3rd. Briarhill Ct. Victim (Quincy C. Hatten) stated he and suspect (Hazel L. Carson) were arguing. Victim stated suspect struck him with a table leg in the forehead causing a laceration.

@ 7:00 am. Criminal Mischief 3rd/Criminal Trespass 3rd. Will Logan Rd. Victim (Shirley Freeman) stated an unknown suspect came onto her property and damaged her E-911 sign posts and a clay pot.

@ 10:09 am. Harassing Communications. Harris Rd. Victim (Ashleigh Lester) stated suspect (Jamie Smedley) repeatedly sends threatening text to her cell phone.

@ 1:28 pm. Criminal Mischief 2nd. Dean Church Rd. Victim (Jefferson Z. Johnson) stated an
unknown suspect used an unknown object to scratch his entire vehicle.

@ 5:26 pm. Burglary 3rd/Theft of Property 3rd. Hillcrest Street. Victim (Tamara R. Williams) stated an unknown suspect entered her home and removed an X-Box, games and controllers.

@ 5:50 pm. Domestic Dispute. Brookview Dr. (Roger L. Chaney) and (Lisa B. Chaney) were arguing over personal matters.

@ 6:35 pm. Domestic Dispute. Brookview Dr. (Patricia J. Austin) and (Kimberly Duke) were arguing over
personal matters.

@ 8:29 pm. Menacing. Ozark Motel. Victim (Angelo T. Cooper) stated an unknown suspect drove behind the motel and pointed a rifle with a laser into his window.

@ 8:46 pm. Theft of Property 3rd/Unlawful B & E of Vehicle. Platinum Motors. Victim (Dion T. Robinson) stated an unknown suspect removed the catalytic converter from his vehicle.

ARRESTS:
Hazel Lynn Carson – Domestic Violence 3rd. 161 Briarhill Ct. 33 YOA.