Two individuals wanted by the Centre Police Department have been taken into custody.
According to the office of Centre Police Chief Kirk Blankenship Investigator Randy Mayorga had gone to Etowah County, in order to follow up on information that suspects in a possible felony theft case at the Centre Walmart, were staying in that area. Once there, Mayorga was joined by Etowah County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Jeremy Lasseter; they then traveled to the motel where they thought the suspects may be, however they soon learned the pair had never checked in; a quick check of another motel nearby, turned up information that those suspects had been there, but had checked out just three hours earlier.
At that point Mayorga and Lasseter knew they were hot on the trail of the pair, and decided to search around the areas of Attalla and Alabama City to see if they could locate the vehicle they’d been traveling in; and as luck would have it, while driving down Meighen Boulevard, the investigators spotted another individual wanted in Cherokee County – Chris Dawson.
The Tahoe Dawson was riding in was pulled over; he was placed under arrest on charges of Burglary 3rd Degree, and Theft of Property 1st Degree. According to Investigator Mayorga, he was charged in connection with the theft of approximately $3,000 worth of fireworks at the fireworks stand at Golden Beverages on the bypass in Centre; a cash register which was taken during the burglary was found the next morning in the WEIS Radio parking lot.
Later that evening Mayorga and Lasseter got a call from one of the motels they had checked earlier in the day; the two suspects from the Walmart case had returned.
The suspects were met in their room by law enforcement and the male identified as 24 year old Jacob Lee Zook, originally from the Hokes Bluff area was arrested and charged with 2nd Degree Theft of Property.
The female was questioned and released, pending further investigation.
No additional information regarding that case is being released at this time.
Zook was released after making bond of $5,000; and Dawson was released after making his bond, which had been set at $17,500.
Chief Kirk Blankenship wishes to thank Investigator Randy Mayorga, for the dedication he’s shown in gathering information vital to these cases; he would also like to thank the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office, and Investigator Jeremy Lasseter in particular, for their cooperation in moving these cases forward.
