The Alabama Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the body of a woman found in Osanippa Creek off of Hopewell Road in Valley, Alabama, early Tuesday morning.

She was positively identified as Renee Eldridge, 25, of Columbus, according to Valley police. Eldridge was reported missing by her family July 4.

The preliminary finding of the cause of death has been determined to be blunt force trauma to the head, according to police. They have ruled the death a homicide.

Valley and Columbus police investigators have been in contact and are working together on the case.

If anyone has any information concerning the case, they are asked call the Valley Police Department at 334-756-5200 or Valley Area Crime Stoppers at 334-756-8200.

Robber asks to use phone, steals man’s wallet

A resident of the 400 block of Ashton Street told LaGrange police that a man who asked to use his phone robbed him Tuesday morning.

Officers responded to the call about 6:30 a.m. The victim told officers the robber rang his doorbell and asked to use his phone. The man dialed two or three numbers, hung up the phone and appeared to leave.

When the victim went to shut the front door, the robber jumped on him from behind, according to a report. The man grabbed the victim’s wallet containing cash and fled.

Police were investigating.

Allegedly drunken woman takes U-Haul truck on joyride

The LaGrange Police Department Crime Suppression Unit spotted a work truck make a wide right turn and take off at high speed at Belk and Niles streets about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. Officers followed the truck, which had no lights on and occassionally stopped in the middle of the street before taking off at high speed, according to an officer’s report.

Officers caught up with the truck at Cross Creek Drive and Ragland Street, and said they could smell alcohol coming from the driver and spotted an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. The passenger in the truck was wearing a motorcycle helmet because he said he feared for his safety, an officer reported.

The occupants told officers they had been arguing about their taxes.

Officers conducted a field sobriety test on the driver and determined she had a blood alcohol content reading of 0.135 percent, according to an officer’s report. She was arrested and cited for open container and reckless driving.

Man claims hit with gun during fight

A man told LPD officers he got into an altercation with another man Tuesday night at a home in the 100 block of North Page Street. According to the victim, it started as an argument, but turned physical when the other man pulled out a gun and hit him in the head with it.

The victim declined to press charges, but wanted to document the incident.

Man suspects money stolen by friend looking for cigs

A resident of the 100 block of Wright Street told police Tuesday evening that he was sitting on the porch when a man he knew walked by and asked to borrow some cigarettes. The victim allowed the friend go retrieve them from his bed, and when he later went inside, he noticed an envelope with $180 missing. Police were investigating.

All information in this report is gathered from official law enforcement and public safety reports and releases. It is the policy of the Daily News to list the names of people charged with felonies.

Melanie Ruberti is a reporter at LaGrange Daily News. She may be reached at 706-884-7311, ext. 2156.