Domestic violence suspect in custody

FLORENCE — A man wanted by police for nearly two weeks on domestic violence charges has been found, officials said.

“We have been one step behind him, but finally we got the information we needed,” Florence Police Chief Ron Tyler said Thursday afternoon.

Timothy Terrell Garner, 31, 1407 Sherrod Ave., Florence, is charged with domestic violence strangulation and domestic violence third-degree assault. Tyler said Garner was taken into custody just before 5 p.m. at a residence on Button Avenue.

Tyler said officers received a tip Garner was at the residence, and when an officer arrived, he saw Garner “run into the attic.”

The department’s SWAT team quickly surrounded the house since no one knew if Garner was armed. Tyler said it wasn’t long after SWAT’s arrival when Garner surrendered.

Garner was wanted in connection to an incident that took place two weeks ago inside a car parked in the driveway of his house. Domestic violence officer John Woodrum said Garner is accused of beating and strangling a 34-year-old woman. He said the woman was beaten almost beyond recognition.

“It was one of the worse beatings with a fist I have ever seen,” Woodrum said.

Woodrum said the woman was taken to Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital and then transferred to UAB.

Garner is being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center without bail.

Tom Smith

Police say man robbed at gunpoint

FLORENCE — A man was robbed at gunpoint Wednesday night while walking home on Pine Street.

Reports indicate the 19-year-old man said he had been to a restaurant in north Florence and was walking home between 10 p.m. and 10:25 p.m.

“He said when he got near the intersection of Edgewood Drive and Pine Street, a man walked up behind him and stuck what he thought was a gun to his back,” Florence police Sgt. Cliff Billingsley said.

Billingsley said the robber wanted the man’s wallet.

“The only description the victim could give us was that the robber was a man and he was wearing a gray hooded shirt,” Billingsley said.

Anyone knowing anything about the robbery is asked to call police at 256-768-2728 or Shoals Crime Stoppers at 256-386-8685.

Tom Smith

Robbery under investigation

MUSCLE SHOALS — Law enforcement authorities are asking for the public’s help for information about a robbery that took place on State Street on Wednesday night.

Police said three men broke into a residence in the 600 block of northeast State Street about 6:30 p.m. and assaulted and robbed the homeowner.

Reports indicate the 69-year-old homeowner said he was in his bedroom when the men came in and hit him in the head numerous times. He told detectives that one of the men had a gun.

Authorities said the robbers took a gun, electronics and prescription medication. The homeowner was taken to Shoals Hospital by a private vehicle for treatment.

Police said all three suspects are described as white men ranging in age from 21 to early 30s.

Anyone with any information is asked to call 256-383-6746 or Shoals Crime Stoppers at 256-386-8685.

Tom Smith

REPORTS

Florence police

Criminal mischief

A 1974 white Chevrolet El Camino was damaged while parked at a business on Waterloo Road.

Two front windows were damaged at a residence on Kirkman Street.

A residence was damaged in the 400 block of Cypress Mill Road.

A 1994 green Ford F-150 truck was damaged while parked on Dr. Hicks Boulevard.

A glass door at a business in the 2000 block of Cloverdale Road was damaged.

A 2002 blue Chevrolet Cavalier was damaged while parked in the 1700 block of Cole Avenue.

Breaking and entering

A pack of photographs was taken from a 2006 white Dodge Ram parked in the 100 block of Pin Oak Drive.

Three .22-caliber ammunition magazines were taken from a 2001 white Lexus RX300 parked in the 100 block of West Oak Hills Drive.

Thefts

A gooseneck trailer was taken from a residence on Polar Street.

An electronic tablet was taken from a residence in the 100 block of Cross Street.

Prescription drugs and an iPhone4 were taken from a residence in the 600 block of Blair Street.

Two bicycles were taken from a residence in the 600 block of South Richards Street.

Two pairs of soccer cleats were taken from a residence at Military Street and Simpson Street.