Officials: Man had phoney money

TOWN CREEK — Authorities said a man is in jail after they found counterfeit money on him while police were arresting him on another charge.

Benjamin "B.J." Howlet, 20, 644 Bradley St., Town Creek, is charged with first-degree possession of a forged instrument, Town Creek Police Chief Jerry Garrett said.

He said Howlet was arrested Sunday when officers were serving grand jury warrants for drug charges.

"Just shows, you never know what you're going to find when you go to make an arrest," Garrett said.

After Howlet was taken into custody on the grand jury indictment he was searched for weapons, and officers reported finding $1,020 in counterfeit money in his pant's pocket.

Garrett said Howlet told authorities the phoney money was not his and that he was asked by a friend to hold it.

"Howlet was arrested on the grand jury indictment and also charged with possession of the counterfeit money," Garrett said.

Howlet was in the Lawrence County Jail on Monday without bail.

Tom Smith

Man arrested after police chase

LEIGHTON — A Colbert County man is in jail after he led authorities on a chase Monday morning in a stolen car, officials said.

Andrea Johnson, 33, Spring Valley Road, Tuscumbia, is in jail accused of taking a 2005 Honda Civic from a residence in Muscle Shoals, police said. He also is charged with reckless endangerment and several traffic offenses.

Leighton Police Chief Brandon Hood said police tried to stop Johnson for speeding and when he didn't stop, the pursuit ensued through the eastern part of the county. Leighton was assisted by Colbert County sheriff's deputies and state troopers.

Hood said Johnson ran off the road in a residential area on Jarmon Cove and was taken into custody.

Tom Smith

Officials: Woman stops robbery

LAWRENCEBURG, Tenn. — A woman who became suspicious of two men who pulled into her backyard may have stopped a robbery by holding the men at gunpoint until deputies arrived, officials said Monday.

Travis G. Carter, 21, 410 Whispering Drive, Spring Hill, Tenn., and Freddie Currie II, 21, 2756 Double Branch Road, Columbia, Tenn., are each charged with attempted aggravated robbery, aggravated criminal trespassing, possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of a weapon, said Lt. Nathan Neese, an investigator with the Lawrence County (Tenn.) Sheriff's Office.

Capt. Adam Brewer, of the Sheriff's Office, said the woman lived across the road from Dollar General on U.S. 43 north near Summertown.

"She saw these two guys pulled in behind her house; she got suspicious and came out with a gun," Brewer said.

Neese said deputies found evidence to indicate a robbery may have been planned to target Dollar General.

"Her suspicions paid off," Brewer said.

The two men are being held in the Lawrence County Jail.

Tom Smith

REPORTS

Muscle Shoals police

Thefts

More than a dozen steaks were taken from a business in the 3400 block of Woodward Avenue.

Debit and credit cards, an iPhone and a purse were taken from a business in the 4000 block of Woodward Avenue.

Two bottle of prescription pills and $30 were taken from a residence in the 800 block of Windom Avenue.

Two packages of spare ribs were taken from a business in the 3000 block of Woodward Avenue.

A laptop, 20-inch television and iPhone charger were taken from a residence in the 1000 block of Eason Avenue.

Parts for a Ford F-250 truck were taken from a residence in the 600 block of Tyler Avenue.

Breaking and entering

Credit cards, $25 and a leather wallet were taken from a car parked in the 2000 block of Woodward Avenue.

Criminal mischief

A 2003 silver Nissan Altima was damaged while parked on Wilson Dam Road.

Tuscumbia police

Breaking and entering

Personal documents were taken from a 2005 Chevrolet truck parked in the 1000 block of Avenue A.