A local JC Penney’s manager has been charged with theft in a bizarre case that began with a scam.
Malik Monte’ Stough, 22, of Brantley, told officers he believed he was assisting the United States Marshall’s Service when he took more than $10,000 in cash from the store.
The Andalusia Police Department became involved shortly after 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29, when they responded to a call at the local department store and were told a store manager had taken more than $10,000 in cash. Officers took the suspect’s name and a vehicle description and sent out a statewide BOLO (be on the lookout) in an attempt to locate the suspect.
By approximately 6:30 p.m., the Pike County Sheriff’s Department had detained the suspect in the Spring Hill community of Pike County. APD officers went to Pike County to pick up the suspect, and impounded his vehicle which was transported back to Andalusia.
Chief Paul Hudson said the suspect told investigators that he believed he was assisting the U.S. Marshal’s Service with an investigation into embezzlement in the local store. Stough said he received a call from someone who identified himself as a U.S. Marshal and said he was working with corporate to locate a thief.
Stough said the person advised him to take the money from the store, and then had him drive to several different locations, buying Money Pac cards with the money from the store. Stough would then give the caller the information on the back of the card so the caller would be able to access the money.
Stough said the person threatened to place him in jail if he did not do as instructed. Stough said he did not realize that he was involved in a phone scam until he spoke by telephone with an Andalusia officer.
Stough was charged with Theft of Property 1st . His bond was set at $20,000.
Hudson reminds citizens to please be aware of potential scams.
“ There are several scams out there both online and on the phone,” Hudson said. “Some of these scammers represent themselves as federal, state, or local agencies during these scams. It is recommended that if you receive a call or email asking you to do something involving money and the person or persons contacting you represent themselves as one of these agencies, you get a contact number and then advise them you will call them back and contact your local police to confirm the validity of the call or email.”
Downtown Abbey,the box-office smash hit based on the PBS series that opened last weekend nationwide will be on the big screen in Andalusia beginning Friday.
Mack Clark, owner of Clark Theatres, said movie suppliers initially said it would be two weeks before he could show Downtonhere, but persistence paid off.
“I kept after him, and agreed to pay an audience guarantee, so will have it on two screens beginning Friday night.”
Clark said Downton is scheduled for 4 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday.
On Saturday and Sunday, Clark Theatres will show Downtonat 1 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 4 p.m., 4:!5 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased online in advance from Clark Theatres’ website, https://clarkcinemas.com/andalusia/.For those fans who need to entertain the kids while the adults are enjoying a royal escape, the family-friendly Abdominablealso is showing this weekend, Clark said.
Downton Abbeynetted a whopping $31 million in domestic ticket sales in its first weekend, and beat out all others, including Brad Pitt's science fiction film Ad Astra, which came in at $19.2 million, and Rambo: Last Blood, which reached a similar $19 million. It also topped two well-performing, previously-released movies: Hustlers at $17 million, and It: Chapter Two with $17.2 million.
As Andalusia High School continues the Season of Celebration of its 100thyear of football, it will celebrate A Sound Tradition on Friday, October 18, when an alumni band will join the current band members in performance at halftime.
Organizer Johnny Brewer said any former band member is invited to participate.
The cost of participation is $25, for which participants will receive an alumni band T-shirt ($10), and from which the AHS band will receive $15. Payments can be made by PayPal, or can be mailed.
Alumni band members will rehearse at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 17, Brewer said. They will play “traditional Andy songs,” including the fight song and the alma mater.
More information is available on the Facebook page “2019 Andalusia High School Alumni Band.” The deadline for ordering T-shirts is Friday, September 27.
Other organizers are Wynne Wilson Glenn, Amy Dugger, and Joshua Sheffer. For additional information, call Brewer at 334-504-1899 or Glenn at 334-804-1900.
The Covington Veterans Foundations will honor local veterans this November by displaying tribute banners on the city square and surrounding streets. The display coincides with The First Inaugural Celebration of Heroes: A Salute to Covington County Veterans, a two-week event that kicks off on Sunday, November 3. CVF Chairman John Vick said other cities in Alabama have tried this and have had great public support and approval for their displays.
“The display of our local veterans in the public space brings attention to the service and sacrifice of these individuals,” Vick said. “We especially want to highlight our World War II veterans most of which sadly are now gone.”
The public will be able to sponsor a banner for their own local veterans for a cost of only $75. A picture of the veteran in their uniform at the time of their service is desired. The CVF is offering free scanning for those who wish to sponsor a banner. The cost also includes an 8x10 print adaptation of the banner. The banners also will be used for future veterans events.
Forms are available at the CVF office located at the county administrative building (190 Hillcrest Drive, Room 178), and also at the Andalusia, Opp, and Florala Chambers of Commerce. The order form will also be available at the Covington Veterans Foundation Facebook page and at www.andalusiaveterans.com/get-involved. Forms can also be had by calling (334) 392-0204 or emailing . The deadline for banner sponsorship in 2019 is October 20.
Invictus Development on Thursday held an official groundbreaking for Appaloosa Run, a new 56-unit apartment complex featuring two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments, a clubhouse and fitness center. Construction on Shreve Road just behind Ireland Trailer is expected to be completed in 11 months.
The housing is designed for working families like teachers or law enforcement officers.
Olympia Construction of Albertville, Ala., is the general contractor.
Shown from left are Summer Reaves and Vickie Wacaster, Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce board members; Steve Williams of McKean and Associates; Andalusia Councilwoman Hazel Griffin; Mike Marra of Wells Fargo; John Peck of Olympia Construction; Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson; local developer Robert Bishop; Chamber Executive Director Chrissie Duffy; Rep. Mike Jones; Covington County Economic Development Commission Executive Director Rick Clifton; Paula Rhodes, president of Invictus; Rick Cavalieri, executive vice president of Invictus; Gene Gant of Alabama Housing Trust Fund; Stephen Lee, vice president of RBC Capital Markets; and Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce Assistant Director Maggie Jones.