slideshow

Two men are facing charges for allegedly stealing a front end loader from behind Union County High School and then driving it to a nearby scrap metal yard to sell it.

Devaion Deauntrey Davis, 19, 116 Brooklyn Avenue, #6G, Carlisle, and Dextra Jawuan Goggins, 18, 720 Lakeside Drive, #I-2, Union, are each charged by the Union Public Safety Department with third-degree burglary and larceny over $2,000.

The incident report states an officer was notified Friday afternoon about a Bobcat front end loader that had recently been sold to Lucky’s Scrap Metal Yard. The officer was asked to check out the rear area of the high school where the Bobcat was usually kept. When the officer got there, he discovered the gate of the fenced in area where the Bobcat is kept was open and the vehicle gone.

Public Safety Director Sam White said Wednesday that investigators determined the theft occurred Friday. White said the owner of Lucky’s, which is located in the county, initally contacted Scott Coffer with the Union County Sheriff’s Office about the Bobcat. Since the high school is located in the city, White said Coffer then contacted his department about the Bobcat and an officer was dispatched to the high school to see if the vechicle was missing. When he discovered it was, White said his department took over the investigation.

Within the next four days, both Davis and Goggins would be arrested and charged with the theft of the vehicle. White said their arrests within such a short period of time was the result of the cooperation law enforcement received from the owner of Lucky’s. He said the process got underway when the owner of Lucky’s asked Davis and Goggins to show him the personal identification required by state law to sell scrap metal.

“When you sell something at the scrap metal place you have to identify yourself, that’s state law,” White said. “You have to have a picture ID before they can purchase it from you.”

White said Davis and Goggins presented their identification to the scrap metal dealer who then purchased the Bobcat from them for $500. After making the purchase, White said the owner then contacted Coffer.

With the information provided by the owner of Lucky’s, White said officers were able to arrest Davis on Monday and take Goggins into custody on Tuesday. White said officers have also recovered part of the money paid Davis and Goggins for the Bobcat. He said the Bobcat, which the report states is valued at $8,000, has been returned to the high school.

Incidents

The following incidents are being investigated by the public safety department.

Vandalism

A vandal or vandals with a taste for soft drinks and potato chips are being sought for vandalizing a room at the Union County Stadium.

The incident report states an officer was dispatched Tuesday to the stadium in response to a report of a vandalism. The complainant told the officer that while performing on the football field, he noticed one of the doors to the press box was open. When he went to the press box to check on it he discovered someone had been in the room. He said there were empty soft drink cans and empty potato chip bags on the floor.

The man said he then went to the concession room where the soft drinks are stored. He said the door to the concession room was locked. After unlocking it he went inside and discovered someone had taken a fire extinguisher and sprayed the room with it. He said some cans of soft drinks were also missing from the room.

The report states there was no sign of forced entry. The damage is estimated at $400.

Arrests

The following persons were arrested by the public safety department.

Dennis Lashun Gregory, 33, 205 Spencer Road, Jonesville, charged Friday with simple possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and speeding.

Lorn Carson Wofford, 60, 862 Sardis Road, Union, charged Sunday with disorderly conduct.

Lorn Kyle Wofford, 31, 690 Old Hill Bridge Road, Union, charged Sunday with disorderly conduct.

Kevin Scott Groves, 37, 808 Webber Lake Road, Union, charged Saturday with disorderly conduct.

Alexander Michael Adams, 17, 270 Lite St., Jonesville, charged Monday with disorderly conduct.

Debra Ann Boyle, 53, 142 Mitchell Road, Union, charged Saturday with driving under the influence.

Shellie Mari Blalock, 35, 102 Spring St., Union, charged Tuesday with disorderly conduct.

Kenneth Michael Austin, 42, 755 N. Duncan Bypass, #115, Union, charged Tuesday with disorderly conduct.