Crime Stoppers offers reward for information in homicide investigation

Published 8:21 pm Monday, February 5, 2018

The LaGrange Police Department is still pursuing leads in an investigation into a shooting last week on Lady Elaine Street. Troup County Crime Stoppers is also offering  up to a $2,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest.

Antonio M. Harris, 31, was killed after an unknown suspect or suspects fired more than 20 gunshots into the residence and drove away, according to a LaGrange Police Department press release. According to the LPD, two adult females and two young children were inside the home at the time of the shooting.

“We are continuing to run down leads as the community, family and folks provide them to us,” said Lt. Dale Strickland with the LPD.

Strickland said it is “critical” for people to come forward that know anything about the case.

High speed chase ends with forgery charges

Several patrol officers with the LaGrange Police Department engaged in a high-speed chase with a vehicle that allegedly ran several stop signs, nearly hit a LPD car head on and traveled at speeds more than 50 miles per hour over the speed limit.

According to the police report, officers were about to use a PIT maneuver on the vehicle when it slammed on the brakes and pulled over. The driver, Tre’vonn Malik Valentine was later charged with forgery for being in possession of $220 in counterfeit money and obstruction, failure to stop for stop sign, fleeing and reckless driving. The passenger, Quarnandez Montel Reed, 18, was also charged forgery.

Man allegedly hits mailbox in front of

police officers, flees

A man was arrested after he knocked over a mailbox on Rutland Circle right in front of a number of police officers.

William Zachary Carper, 25, allegedly knocked over a mailbox in front of several police officers, who were all within 20 to 30 feet of the mailbox. Then, he drove away. Officers pulled the vehicle over about a quarter of a mile from the incident.

Carper was found to have illegal drugs in the floor board, according to the police report. He was charged with possession of marijuana less than one ounce.

Man arrested for stealing beer

A man was arrested for allegedly shoplifting from Walmart on Lafayette Parkway Saturday night. According to the police report, the store manager told police that the man, later identified as 43-year-old Marcel Antoine Cotton, pushed a buggy full of beer out of the store without paying.

Officers ran the tag number and located his address.

Once at Cotton’s residence, they identified and arrested him. They asked to search the residence and found the stolen Bud Light in a child’s bedroom. There were five 30 packs of Bud Light, valued at $104.35.  According to the report, Cotton told police that he knew the Super Bowl was Sunday and that he was going to sell the beer to get his lights turned on.

Cotton also has one prior conviction for shoplifting and two prior convictions for driving with his license suspended in the last five years, according to the report.

All information in this report is gathered from official law enforcement and public safety reports and releases.

Reach the LaGrange Daily News at (706) 884-7311.