An arrest has been made in an Alexandria theft investigation.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has charged 27 year old Michael Brandon Colwell with theft of property under $500, resisting arrest, and unlawful possession of a weapon. His bond is $4,500 and he will be in court January 5. Colwell had been a resident of Cantrell Road Smithville before moving to Parkview Apartments on Gin Alley Road, Alexandria just a few days ago.
Meanwhile, the Alexandria Police Department has charged Colwell with four counts of burglary, three counts of theft, and one count of vandalism. His bond on these charges totals $60,000 and he will be in court January 5. More charges are pending.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Colwell was arrested Monday, January 2 for allegedly taking twenty dollars in cash from the wallet of someone on Curtis Avenue in Alexandria. He said Colwell admitted to the theft.
On Monday morning, officers went to Parkview Apartments on Gin Alley Road in search of Colwell but did not find him. Colwell was there when the officers returned later. Colwell was placed under arrest and handcuffed. Upon a pat down search, officers found on his side, a buoy knife with a five and three quarter inch blade. During the arrest, Sheriff Ray said that Colwell became violent. Colwell told the arresting officers that he was not going to jail and tried to jerk away from them several times. The officers had to take him to the ground. They also forcibly put him in the patrol car.
While making the arrest, officers saw some things in the residence that were not there on their first visit including a chainsaw, guitars, and radios that appeared to have been ripped out of vehicles. The officers confiscated those items and brought them to the jail for a further investigation.
Alexandria Police Chief Mark Collins said that in addition to the charges brought by the Sheriff’s Department, Colwell is charged with breaking into the First Baptist Church on Locust Street in Alexandria around midnight on New Year’s Eve; breaking into two cars at residences on Curtis Avenue; and attempting to break-in to one of his neighbor’s apartments on Gin Alley Road late Sunday night or early Monday morning. In the attempted burglary, Chief Collins said Colwell attempted to break into an apartment that joined his at Parkview. But the victim was home at the time. When she heard a noise at the front door, she looked through a peephole and saw a man trying to open the locked door with a credit card. But Colwell was apparently scared off because he dropped the card and ran into his own apartment.
In the News Year’s Eve incident, Chief Collins said a concerned citizen called around midnight to alert authorities of the break-in at the church. Alexandria Police responded and found that two front doors of the church had been pried open. Chief Collins said that as officers entered attempting to clear the building, they saw someone inside. The intruder made his escape by breaking out a glass door. Alexandria Police initiated a foot pursuit and Sheriff’s Department deputies came to the scene to assist but the suspect could not be located. Chief Collins said while the burglar had taken a few items from the church, he had left behind a pile of electronic equipment inside that he apparently had intended to steal.
After Colwell’s arrest by the Sheriff’s Department on Monday morning, Alexandria Police began receiving reports from residents in Alexandria whose vehicles, buildings, and outbuildings had been burglarized. The Sheriff’s Department had seized as suspected stolen property several items found in Colwell’s Alexandria apartment upon his arrest. Many of these things were later identified as the items reported missing from the victims who had called police.
Alexandria Police conducted a search of Colwell’s apartment home and recovered items taken from the church and other places in Alexandria.
Chief Collins commended the concerned citizen who tipped off authorities about the burglary in progress at the church on New Year’s Eve because that call may have prevented the theft of several thousands of dollars worth of equipment from the church. He also thanked Sheriff Ray and his deputies for their assistance in this case.
Chief Collins further urged citizens to report any suspicious activity they may observe by calling the Alexandria Police Department or 911.
32 year old Eric Steven Pollard of Lowery Lane, McMinnville is cited for violation of the registration law, violation of the light law, and violation of the financial responsibility law (no insurance). His court date is January 25.
Sheriff Ray reports that on Tuesday, January 3 a deputy spotted a white truck with a head light out on Highway 56. The officer stopped the vehicle but the driver, Pollard, could not show proof of insurance and registration.
20 year old Travis Joe Davenport of Eagle Creek Road, Smithville is charged with driving on a suspended license. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court on January 19
Sheriff Ray said that Davenport was stopped by an officer on Highway 56 Saturday, December 31. The deputy making the traffic stop had prior knowledge that Davenport’s license was suspended because he had issued him a citation for the same offense on November 14. Davenport’s license was suspended for failure to satisfy a citation on October 28, 2011
23 year old Charles R. Riedley of Wildwood Drive, Smithville is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence. He was also issued a citation for reckless driving and violation of the implied consent law. Riedley will be in court on January 5. His bond is $3,000.
Sheriff Ray reports that on December 28, an officer pulled over Riedley’s vehicle on Wildwood Drive for erratic driving. Riedley had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he was unsteady on his feet. He performed poorly on all field sobriety tasks. Riedley refused to submit to a blood test. His first DUI offense was on November 27, 2007 in Rutherford County.
33 year old Victor Lee Lewis of Short Mountain Highway, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and criminal trespassing. Lewis was also issued citations for violation of the implied consent law and violation of the light law. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court on January 5.
Sheriff Ray reports that on December 29 Lewis was stopped by an officer on Highway 146 because of a non working brake light. He was also allegedly involved in a trespassing complaint. Lewis had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he was unsteady on his feet. He performed poorly on all field sobriety tasks. Lewis refused to submit to a blood test. On the trespassing charge, Lewis is accused of beating on the door and windows of a residence on Highway 146, where he was not supposed to be. Officers warned him to keep away from this home but he returned and began beating on the door and windows again.
32 year old Alvaro Munoz of Miller Road, Smithville is cited for driving on a suspended license, violation of the financial responsibility law (no insurance), and roadways lane for traffic (failure to maintain lane of travel). He will be in court on January 19.
Sheriff Ray said that Munoz was stopped by a deputy on Highway 70 Friday, December 30 for failing to maintain his lane of travel. He allegedly crossed the line several times. A computer check revealed that Munoz’ drivers license was suspended for violation of the financial responsibility law (no insurance) on November 14, 2011. He could not provide proof of insurance during this traffic stop (December 30).
Archived News & Obituaries