Two charged with using stolen checks

FLORENCE — Two local men are accused of stealing a checkbook and writing more than a dozen checks at a local business, police said.

Michael Blake Poole, 20, 518 E. Lakeside Drive, Florence, and Kenyatta Roach, 22, 516 Woodard Ave., Florence, are each charged with 13 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and one count of second-degree theft of property, police said.

Florence police detective Jerry Pearson said the two are accused of stealing a checkbook from a car at a Florence High School football game Nov. 2. and writing 13 checks to Wal-Mart for merchandise, then returning the items for cash.

Reports indicate the two were caught on surveillance video, which led to their arrest.

Sexual solicitation suspect wanted

LAWRENCEBURG, Tenn. — Arrest warrants have been issued for a Lawrence County, Tenn., man accused of having sex with a minor while encouraging another minor to watch, officials said.

Thomas Ernest White, 28, Iron City. Tenn., is charged with solicitation of a minor to observe sexual conduct.

Lawrenceburg police detective Capt. Don Laws said the incident involves girls younger than 15 years old. Laws said White also is wanted for questioning for aggravated statutory rape of a minor.

He said police need the public's help in locating White. Anyone knowing anything about his whereabouts is asked to call the police at 931-762-2276 or the Lawrence County Sheriff's office at 931-762-3626.

Burn victim's condition improving

CHEROKEE — UAB Hospital officials said Friday that a woman burned at her residence is improving.

Kimberly Pounders, 19, is listed in stable condition, said Kevin Story, a hospital spokesman.

Pounders was in critical condition the past two weeks after she was burned in a fire at her residence Dec. 2. Officials said she was flown to UAB Hospital's burn center with burns on more than 50 percent of her body.

Firefighters said Pounders was asleep inside while her parents and friends were talking outside the manufactured home. The residence is on Moody Lane in Cherokee.

REPORTS

Tuscumbia police

Burglaries

Two handguns and ammunition were taken from a residence in the 700 block of North Water Street.

A case of liquor was taken from a business in the 1400 block of U.S. 72.

Thefts

Two sweatshirts, a UNA championship ring, cellphone and prescription medication were taken from a residence in the 1200 block of East Third Street.

Lauderdale County sheriff

Theft

A Chocolate pearl necklace was taken from a residence in the 100 block of Crockett Circle, Florence.

Colbert County sheriff

Burglaries

Two .20-gauge shotguns, a .12-gauge shotgun and a .16-gauge shotgun were taken from a residence on Locus Lane, Tuscumbia.

A PlayStation3, two .22-caliber pistols, a .30-06-caliber rifle, .16-gauge shotgun, .20-gauge shotgun and .22-caliber rifle were taken from a residence on County Farm Road, Tuscumbia.

Florence police

Thefts

A 1998 Ford Taurus was taken from a residence in the 2000 block of Houston Street.

Criminal mischief

A business in the 200 block of Seville Street was damaged.

A residence and a chain link fence in the 1000 block of Bellmeade Avenue were damaged.

ARRESTS

Colbert County sheriff

Christy W. Gann, 31, 1151 Turkey Branch, Beaverton; second-degree unlawful manufacturing a controlled substance.