Latest news with #MorganCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Body found on US 231 bridge leads to homicide charge for Arab resident
Jun. 2—A man from Arab is being charged with murder after investigators in Morgan County and Madison County located and identified a body on the U.S. 231 bridge in Lacey's Spring on Friday, according to the Morgan County Sheriff's Office. Daniel Ray Shelton, 55, is being charged with murder in the death of Arab resident 39-year-old David Merrit. Shelton was being held in the Madison County Jail with no bail, charged with homicide and abuse of a corpse. The Sheriff's Office said the Madison County coroner told them Merrit's body was discovered in a blanket on the side of the road near the guard rail. On Saturday, the Morgan County Sheriff's Office SWAT team along with Morgan County and Huntsville investigators served a search warrant at a residence on Seagrove Road in Lacey's Spring. The Sheriff's Office said Shelton was not present and was located on Sunday. Morgan County Sheriff's Office Investigators, Huntsville Police Department, Arab police and the Marshall County Sheriff's Office assisted during the investigation, according to the Morgan County Sheriff's Office. — or 256-340-2442.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Falkville double homicide suspect found competent to stand trial
May 30—A man charged in a 2023 double homicide in Falkville was ruled mentally competent to stand trial Wednesday in a Morgan County courtroom, though a trial date has not been set. Joshua Lamar Knighten, 38, appeared in Morgan County Circuit Judge Charles Elliott's courtroom with his attorneys James Burney and Brian White. He is charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of attempted murder. Elliott in August had issued an order for Knighten to have a mental exam at the request of the defendant. At Knighten's preliminary hearing in 2023, Morgan County sheriff's Investigator Caleb Brooks testified that during a forensic interview Knighten admitted he had not been able to afford his prescribed medication and reported that he "heard voices in his head." Knighten has been incarcerated in the Morgan County Jail without bond since his Feb. 5, 2023, arrest. On that date, deputies responded to a 911 call at a Falkville residence located at 53 SE Goodwin Road. When they arrived, they found Knighten lying on the ground and telling them he "did not mean to." "How many lives did I end tonight?" Knighten asked Morgan County sheriff's Cpl. Jacob Raburn as he was placed in a patrol vehicle, according to an affidavit by Brooks. Deputies found the body of Mitchell Ray Beard, 62, of Falkville, who Knighten had shot multiple times while Beard was inside his vehicle, according to the Morgan County Sheriff's Office. Another man was found inside the residence with multiple gunshot wounds. Another man was found inside the residence with multiple gunshot wounds. He was identified as 36-year-old Marcus Ken Reed, Beard's stepson. The Sheriff's Office said Reed was transported to Huntsville Hospital but died from his wounds two days later. Knighten also allegedly shot Sarah Conley, who left the scene before deputies arrived. She later showed up at the Falkville Police Department with several gunshot wounds. Investigators recovered a 9mm Glock-19 on the driveway and a Springfield XDM Elite 9mm pistol inside Knighten's residence. Both firearms have been listed by the Sheriff's Office as the murder weapons. According to the affidavit, Knighten made a 911 call and told dispatchers if no one at the residence would tell him who had been stealing from his uncle, "that they was ready to die." Two other people may have been present at the scene of the shootings. Harald Hommers, a Georgia resident, said shortly after the shooting that Reed's fiancée and her young daughter were also there during the incident. "My daughter and my granddaughter were luckily able to take cover and not be shot, but (the suspect) was shooting actively at them," Hommers said at the time. Authorities have not provided details about these other individuals, but Morgan County sheriff's spokesman Mike Swafford said other people were present. Knighten pleaded not guilty to all charges on Feb. 6, 2023. — or 256-340-2442.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Scams totaling over $1M affecting residents in Morgan Co.
MORGAN COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — Multiple residents in Morgan County are being scammed out of a ton of money totaling over $1M. According to MCSO, last week a resident reported losing $813,000 to a scammer posing as law enforcement and claiming they had Federal Warrants and Charges. This particular resident made payments totaling $813,000 from January to May. This week, another resident reported losing $15,000 to a scammer posing as law enforcement and claiming they had Warrants and Charges as well. 'These are scams. Every time. Do not give money to anyone claiming to be Law Enforcement over the phone….ever….PLEASE,' said the Morgan County Sheriff's Office. MCSO told News 19 that a third resident was contacted by his 'bank' stating that they had received a tip about a $200,000 scam in the area and that his account had been compromised on the 'dark web'. Authorities said that the resident was directed to withdraw money from his bank and deposit it in a bitcoin machine in Huntsville 'for safe keeping until the scam is resolved'. In all, this resident lost $200,000. The Morgan County Sheriff's Office is providing some tips to residents on how to spot scams. You are contacted out of the blue There is an urgent crisis or issue The caller tries to make you fearful You are directed to send/give money or gift cards Hang up and call your bank to verify the issue Talk to someone before taking action When in doubt, hang up! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Suspect turns himself in after alleged road rage shooting in Lacey's Spring
May 23—A man alleged to have fired a gun into an occupied car during a road rage incident last week in Lacey's Spring turned himself in to authorities Wednesday afternoon, according to the Morgan County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office said Jonathan Daniel Green, 47, of Arab, is charged with discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle. He is being held in the Morgan County Jail in lieu of $90,000 bail. Jail records Thursday indicated an investigator's hold had been placed on him. According to an affidavit filed in Morgan County District Court, deputies responded to the road rage incident on May 16 and the victim told them he was traveling south on U.S. 231 when his friend called him and stated "that a guy in a gold Lincoln car was tailgating him and flashing the headlights at him." The friend slammed on his brakes, and the Lincoln passed him. As it did, the friend saw a white male driver pointing a silver revolver at him. After getting behind the Lincoln, the victim took a picture of the vehicle and the license tag. "(The victim) then stated the driver of the (Lincoln) hit his brakes, causing (the victim) to go into the southbound left lane and when the driver got next to his vehicle, he heard what appeared to be gunshots and something hit his vehicle," the affidavit said. The victim and his friend pulled their vehicles over on Rescue Road at Union Hill Road and observed a bullet hole in the front passenger door of the victim's Toyota Camry. The victim positively identified Green as the driver of the Lincoln, according to the affidavit. Shooting into an occupied vehicle is a Class B felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. — or 256-340-2442.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Morgan County deputies arrest man after chase in stolen SUV
May 21—A Somerville man was arrested Sunday after leading deputies on a chase in a stolen SUV, racking up a felony charge and more than two dozen traffic citations, according to the Morgan County Sheriff's Office. Homer Allen Talley, 50, is being charged with felony attempting to elude, possession of drug paraphernalia, and 27 uniform traffic citations. Deputies said they received a tip that a black GMC Yukon, reported stolen out of Marshall County, might be in the Hulaco and Somerville area. According to an affidavit, two deputies were stationed at the four-way stop at Alabama 36 and Alabama 67 in Somerville when they spotted a vehicle matching the description heading north on Alabama 67. The deputies identified the driver as Talley and, after noticing the vehicle had no tag, initiated a traffic stop near Jack's Family Restaurant in Somerville. "The vehicle began to accelerate through the parking lot back onto Hwy. 67 going south attempting to flee deputies," the affidavit said. According to the Morgan County Sheriff's Office, Talley drove recklessly through the Cotaco, Union Hill and Hulaco areas. The chase ended when deputies successfully stopped him on Hog Jaw Road. The affidavit said deputies approached the vehicle, took Talley and another person into custody and then located marijuana on the floorboard and a glass smoking device with residue in the driver door. The vehicle was confirmed stolen by the Albertville Police Department and was released to the owner. Among the 27 traffic citations, Talley is charged with running five stop signs during the pursuit and driving on the wrong side of the highway. The Sheriff's Office said he is being held without bond in the Morgan County Jail for failing to appear on a previous attempt to elude charge. They said Talley received a $128,000 bond on the other charges and faces charges from other agencies. — or 256-340-2442.
