Speak Up! Memphis

Memphis Police Officers Attacked, Man Charged

2008-07-02T21:03:00Z

(Photo of Marquis Jefferson)

MEMPHIS, TN – Investigators say a man has been charged after he tried to steal a Memphis Police Officer’s gun while threatening to kill as many people as possible, including police.

According to investigators, officers received a call about a man who was threatening to kill a woman during an argument over the custody of their children. Police say the incident took place around midnight, Tuesday, July 2, 2008, in the 1300 block of Snowden. Detectives say when the officers arrived on the scene 27 year-old Marquis Jefferson was yelling that he was going to kill someone. Jefferson then hit one of the officers in the face and tried to grab his holstered pistol, according to detectives.

Investigators say even after the officers arrested Jefferson, he continued to yell that he was going to kill as many people as possible, including police. Authorities say Jefferson was never able take the officer’s gun.

Police say the officer who was hit in the face sustained a bruised nose and his partner had minor cuts and bruising.

Marquis Jefferson has been charged with Aggravated Assault and Resisting Official Detention.

Hot Zips for Home Burglaries in Memphis

2008-07-02T15:57:00Z

Memphis, TN - For the sixth month in a row, the 38127, Frayser, tops the list of hot zips for home burglaries in the city of Memphis.

When 49 year-old Frankie Montague left Midtown and relocated to Frayser a couple months ago, she moved there to be closer to family, not to crime.

"The crime makes me sick," says Montague. "Over there is Auntie's house, this is cousin, that's niece and that's sister," she says pointing to the houses next to hers. "And we will whoop everybody's *** on the block if they try to steal something over here."

Frankie and her family live in the hottest spot in town for home break-ins. In the last 30 days, more than 100 homes have been broken into in Frayser. The latest burglary went down yesterday on Frankie's street.

"People just don't care anymore," says Frankie. "They're out there on crack. Or there out there stealing and hurting each other.   Then you've got the little gang bangers initiating people in the gangs."

Take a walk down the sidewalk with Frankie and you'll see dilapidated rental homes with overgrown grass in the front yard. You'll also see a couple of houses that were badly damaged by fire more than a year ago and yet the charred remains still sit as eyesores in the neighborhood.

Frankie's sister, Christine Cruickshank,  has lived in Frayser for 40 years and says it's worse now than it's ever been.

"You see all this?" Christine says. "This is real sick. There's no reason why there should be empty houses. There's no reason why there should be robberies."

Wikipedia describes Frayser as an "economically depressed" and "high crime" part of Memphis with about 51,000 residents.   Only 6-percent of those people have college degrees.

If there's anyone who understands how hard life can be, it's Frankie.

"I got testimonies to tell," she says. "I was on crack for 25 years and I've been clean for 10 and I'm straight. Ain't nothing else can take me down."

She and her sister blame drugs and poverty for the deterioration of their community. The crackheads and criminals, they say, are in charge. Forcing Frankie and Christine to guard the people and things they value very closely.

"When you reach a certain age," says Christine, "you should be comfortable. But these days you gotta look behind your back. If you don't have two pit bulls at your side, no tellin' what's gonna happen to you."

"I'm serious," says Frankie, "I got something for you if you come over here. I'm telling you! I'm serious as a heart attack. I work too hard for things. I'm not going. That's all it is. I'm not going."

Here are the top five hot zips for home burglaries in Memphis from June 1st through June 30th.

1. 38127 (Frayser) - 105
2. 38118 (Parkway Village) - 76
3. 38115 (Hickory Hill) - 73
     38128 (Raleigh) - 73
4. 38116 (Whitehaven & Airport Area) - 64

This information was gathered from the Memphis Police Department's crime database.

Man Dressed as Woman Found Dead Near Daycare

2008-07-02T15:20:00Z

( Photo of 20 year-old Rodney Whitaker)

MEMPHIS, TN – Memphis Police say the body of a man dressed as a woman was found near a daycare.

According to investigators, the body of 20 year-old Rodney Whitaker was found around 7:15 a.m., Tuesday, July 1, 2008, in the 3200 block of Whitebrook Plaza. Police say Whitaker was lying in the grass with a gunshot wound.

Detectives say Whitaker was wearing women’s clothing when he was found and he may have been seen walking in the area of Lamar and Old Getwell around 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

Investigators are asking anyone with information that could help detectives solve this case, call Crime Stoppers at (901) 528-CASH or the Homicide Bureau at (901) 545-5300.

New Laws in the Mid-South

2008-07-02T14:41:00Z

Memphis, TN- Dozens of new bills were signed into law in Nashville. From scrap metal to tracking sex offenders, there are many changes you need to know about.

Sex offenders now need to give a DNA sample when registering, and homeless sex offenders must check in once a month.

The state is cracking down at scrap metal yards. From now on if you are trying to sell copper or catalytic converters from cars, you're not going to get paid in cash. Instead, scrap metal yards will cut you a check. That is after you show a valid state ID and register your thumbprint with the scrap yard. Plus, all scrap metal yard owners now have to be registered with the state Department of Commerce.

Remember all that chaos a few months ago when Hannah Montana came to town? Concert tickets sold out in record time and were bought in bulk by scalpers. Then the tickets were re-sold at astronomical prices. Now, using the software that allows scalpers to do that is illegal.

If you're going to go get a tattoo or piercing and are under 18, better make sure your mom or dad goes with you. All minors must have consent. A parent has to be present and prove they are the minor's mom or dad.

The next time it floods, you might want to think twice before driving through the water. Ignoring flood warning signs or barricades is now considered reckless driving.

A new credit card restriction prevents banks from preying on college students. The fine is going up for parking in a handicap space to $200. All day care center employees must go through a background check. Right now, the state lets you use deadly force when someone breaks into your home or tries to carjack you. Business owners also have that right in the places they work.

In other areas of the Mid-South, Mississippi parents now have to buckle their children into booster seats until they are six years old. In Arkansas, business owners can be fined a thousand dollars if they don't drug test employees who drive and register those results.

Police say woman's baby was cut from womb

2008-07-01T23:31:00Z

KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) - A woman accused of fatally stabbing a pregnant woman and cutting the nearly full-term baby from her womb is jailed without bond and has a court appearance Wednesday.

Police say the suspect, Phiengchai Sisouvanh Synhavong, tried to pass the child off as her own after the attack Friday night at a park in Kennewick, Washington.

Court documents say a boxcutter, bloody gloves and paper towels, yarn, a baby bottle and baby socks were found in the suspect's purse. The documents also say victim Araceli Gomez had her hands and feet bound with yarn and suffered "massive trauma to her stomach area."

An autopsy showed she died of the chest wounds, but had other wounds "consistent with the cutting of the body to remove an unborn child."

The baby boy is hospitalized in critical condition.

4 Year-Old Shoots and Kills 5 Year-Old Sister in Arkansas

2008-07-01T23:29:00Z

HAMPTON, Ark. (AP) - Calhoun County sheriff's deputies say a 5 year-old girl is dead after being accidentally shot by her 4 year-old brother.

Deputies say Miyha Alexandra Ferguson died at Arkansas Children's Hospital on Saturday. She suffered a single gunshot wound to the head after her brother, Juwaun Lee Ferguson, found the .25-caliber handgun in a living room cabinet Thursday.

Investigator Terry Clark says there was at least three bullets in the weapon's clip and one in the chamber when it was fired. Clark says the children's grandmother forgot to tell the family about the pistol she kept in her home.

Deputies plan to give prosecutors an investigative report on the shooting later this week.

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Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, http://www.arkansasonline.com

Elderly Beating Victim Dies at Hospital

2008-07-01T23:27:00Z

MEMPHIS, TN – An elderly man who was beaten at a Memphis apartment complex died at the hospital and police are now investigating the incident as a homicide.

Investigators say 88 year-old Charlie Lightfoot was attacked on May 3rd at the John Madison Exum Towers in the 3100 block of Sharpe Avenue.

Lightfoot was being treated at a rehabilitation center when he was transported to St. Francis Hospital where he later died, according to police. The Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office says Lightfoot died as a result of the injuries sustained during the beating.

Memphis Homicide Detectives are now working the case.

Affidavit: Mother Turns In Son for Murder of Memphis Man

2008-07-01T23:25:00Z

MEMPHIS, TN – A man has been charged in a Memphis murder and his own mother turned him in to police.

According to a court document, Terry Terrell Booker has been charged with First Degree Murder in the shooting death of 27 year-old Milton Trezevant. Investigators say the shooting happened around 7:55 p.m., June 18, 2008, in the area of Horn Lake Road and Hewlett.

Police say Booker’s mother witnessed the shooting and told investigators her son was one of the people involved in Trezevant’s murder. Police say when they arrested Booker, they found a Glock 9mm handgun that had been stolen from DeSoto County, Mississippi.

Booker was on probation for Aggravated Assault at the time of the murder, according to the Affidavit.

Authorities say Booker will also be charged for being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun.

Police say they are still searching for a second suspect in the case.

Arkansas Couple Found Dead in Missouri

2008-07-01T23:24:00Z

FESTUS, Mo. (AP) - The St. Louis Major Case Squad is investigating the double homicide of an Arkansas couple. Sherwood, Arkansas, police say Tom and Jill Estes of Sherwood had gone to Missouri for a family function. Sherwood Lieutenant Cheryl Williams said Missouri police called yesterday after finding the couples' bodies behind a gas station.

Festus police said the bodies were found about 11:00 a.m. Chief Timothy Lewis said the middle-aged couple each had obvious injuries. Police said the couple had checked in to the Comfort Inn in Festus on Friday and were last seen late Sunday.

Around midnight, a hotel guest found the couple's dogs covered in blood in the parking lot. Police arrived and found more blood behind the hotel. The dogs' owners were nowhere to be found.

Police are checking surveillance videos from nearby businesses and believe they may be looking for a pickup truck.

Officials say they're investigating whether the couple's deaths may be linked to a string of killings in Illinois. Illinois State Police say they're looking for a man in connection with the killings of four people in Rock Falls, the beating death of a 93 year-old Sterling, Illinois, man, and the death of a man found behind a Galesburg, Illinois, grocery store.

Police: Road Rage may have led to Shooting Death of Arkansas Teen

2008-07-01T23:23:00Z

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Wichita police say the fatal shooting of a 17 year-old Arkansas girl may have stemmed from a road rage incident.

Homicide Lt. Ken Landwehr said Tuesday that two young women were driving behind a white Pontiac Grand Am Monday night when the Grand Am stopped abruptly in the middle of the street.

The 18 year-old woman driving the second car honked her horn and then drove around the Pontiac and parked down the street. Landwehr says the Pontiac followed them.

Police said the two sides exchanged words and then one of the two men pulled a gun and fired, hitting the 17 year-old at least once. She later died.

Detectives are searching for the two men.

Police identified the victim as Iesha Donaby of Arkansas. The 18 year-old driver was not hurt.

Police say she was spending the summer in Wichita with her uncle.

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Information from KFDI Radio: http://www.kfdi.com

Missing Baby Found, 12 Year-Old Mother Still Missing

2008-06-28T00:14:00Z

MEMPHIS, TN – The 2 month-old Memphis baby has been found, but her 12 year-old mother is still missing.

According to investigators, 12 year-old Berta Guevara ran away from home with her 2 month-old baby on Wednesday, June 25, 2008. Police say the teen’s mother was concerned for the safety of both children.

Authorities say the baby’s father went back to the teen mother’s home, sometime today, Friday, June 27, 2008, and dropped off the child with an aunt.

Berta’s family told Eyewitness News Everywhere the teen said she was taking her two year-old baby for a walk, but never returned home. Family members say they believe she is with her boyfriend, 18 year-old Javier Cabrerra. According the family, Cabrerra is the father of two month-old Jennifer Guevara.

The family says many calls were made to Berta’s cell phone, but she never answered.

Police are still looking for 12 year-old Berta Guevara. If anyone has any information that could help police find the teen, call the Memphis Police Department at (901) 545-2677 or the Missing Persons Bureau at (901) 373-3883.

Government Watchdog Wants All City Contracts Posted on the Internet

2008-06-28T00:10:00Z

MEMPHIS, TN - Apparently the FBI isn't the only one looking into city contracts signed by Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton. Joe Saino, a local government watchdog has seen many of the same contracts the FBI is looking through. But getting access to the documents wasn't easy; Saino had to sue to get copies.

Joe Saino says when it comes to the City of Memphis, finding out about public information isn't so public.

Saino had to file a lawsuit to get copies of documents connected to information technology contracts. It's many of the same contracts that, according to a letter from the FBI, agents wanted copies of as well. Saino finally got some of what he was looking for but not everything.

"I finally signed a settlement and said I give up. I can't have some of this info but it sounds funny and I thought the only people who would be able to get that was the government," said Saino.

And that's what happened. The fed's asked for contracts and payments connected to the following companies:

E.W. Moon
Systems and Computer Technology Corporation
Affiliated Computer Services
Mitchell Technology Group
Thomas Consultants
Integrate Technologies
Leshure Computer Services

Saino says in most cases these companies were subcontractors to ACS. ACS got the main contract with the City of Memphis for information technology. Almost all of the companies on the list are minority owned businesses. Saino says this is not about race, it is about open government and he wants all contracts and information about the losing bidders put on the web.

Saino said "I have no objection to minority contracting, except I think taxpayers should know what premium they are paying. All contracts should be full and open and they are not."

So who are some of the business owners connected to the contracts that the FBI requested? Elvin Moon is a longtime Herenton associate who has received several no bid contracts. Back in 2005 Herenton sold Moon a piece of land for $50 thousand. Not long after that moon signed the land back over to Herenton.

Reginald French runs Integrate Technologies. French is a former Herenton aide and longtime friend. Marvel Mitchell with Mitchell Technologies told Eyewitness News Everywhere, he knows Mayor Herenton professionally, but they are not buddies. Mitchell says he has not done anything wrong, but he questions if all of this scrutiny makes it even worth doing business with the city.

Man Convicted of Raping and Killing Teen Girls to be Resentenced

2008-06-27T17:21:00Z

PURVIS, Miss. (AP) - A one-time death row inmate was to be resentenced after a battery of tests found he was mentally retarded.

Howard Monteville Neal was convicted of shooting his brother, Bobby Neal, and raping and killing his 13-year-old niece and his niece's 14-year-old friend in February 1982.

The crime occurred in Lawrence County, but the case was tried in Lamar County.

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 2003 case from Virginia, ruled that it is unconstitutional to execute mentally retarded defendants.

In 2007, the 55 year-old Neal underwent several tests at the Mississippi State Hospital at Whitfield that determined Neal is mentally retarded.

Circuit Court Judge R.I. Prichard will preside over Friday's resentencing in Lamar County.

Arkansas Teen Accused in Toddler Kidnapping to have Mental Exam

2008-06-27T17:20:00Z

MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. (AP) - An 18 year-old woman accused of kidnapping a 16-month-old boy from a Mountain Home day care has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Samantha House-Baser entered her plea Thursday in Baxter County Circuit Court. Judge Gordon Webb also approved a defense request for a mental evaluation of House-Baser, who remains in jail on $500,000 bond.

Police say House-Baser walked into the Open Arms Learning Center, looked at a list of children's names on the wall, then walked out and called the day care, pretending to be the mother of Aiden Chase Mullen. Police say House-Baser said Aiden would be picked up early by a relative because of a family emergency.

She then re-entered the center and took the boy, police said.

Aiden was found safe at a Mountain Home residence after police received a tip. He has been reunited with his family, who says they did not know House-Baser.

House-Baser, who did not say anything at her hearing Thursday, has a court appearance set for Aug. 14.

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Information from: The Baxter Bulletin, http://www.baxterbulletin.com

Inmate Arrested in 10 year-old Magnolia, Arkansas Murder

2008-06-27T17:13:00Z

MAGNOLIA, Ark. (AP) - Authorities in Columbia County have arrested a man already in prison in connection with a 10 year-old murder case.

On Wednesday, June 25, 2008, authorities arrested 41 year-old Kenneth R. Marshall on suspicion of capital murder and aggravated robbery for the 1998 murder of John L. Davis of Magnolia. Marshall pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Thursday. Prosecutors say they'll seek the death penalty.

Marshall is now in the Jefferson County Jail and Correctional Facility, serving a 35-year sentence on theft and burglary convictions out of Columbia County in 2005. He's previously served a 15-year sentence on drug charges, also in Columbia County.

Davis was found dead in his home on July 9 ,1998. Police say he died from multiple skull fractures and brain trauma.

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Information from: The Banner-News

(Above Photo: Getty Images/file)