RFP Staff

♦ Monday the Salisbury Police arrested Kurt Andrew Zimmerman, 33, of the 1200 block of North Church Street in Salisbury for allegedly robbing a Salisbury couple’s home of $17,000 worth of jewelry and a former co-worker’s “tip money” at Jersey Mike’s Subs by Harris Teeter’s on West Jake Alexander Blvd. in Salisbury.  Zimmerman was allegedly allowed to stay at the Good Samaritan couple’s home after a streak of hard times.  Zimmerman reportedly knew the husband since June.

Zimmerman was charged with 2 counts of larceny (felony), parole violation (misdemeanor), larceny (misdemeanor), and 3 counts of obtaining property by false pretenses (felony).

Under a secured bond of $28,000, Zimmerman is being held at the Rowan County Detention Center.

Back on September 28th the couple left their home to go to work and when the wife returned home later she discovered her jewelry, allegedly valued at $17,000, gone. She reported Zimmerman was the last person in the house.

Police investigators, working with detailed jewelry descriptions, made the rounds of area pawn and jewelry shops. Stops included Salisbury’s Quick Cash Loan, K-Dee’s Jewelry, and Frank’s Pawn Shop. In Spencer Barnhardt Jewelry was approached.

Added to Zimmerman’s list of alleged larcenies was his reported visit to Jersey Mike’s Subs where he allegedly stepped behind the counter and helped himself to a former co-worker’s $65 in tip money kept in a wallet. Zimmerman’s alleged behind-the-counter activities was recorded on Jersey Mike’s surveillance video.

Kurt Andrew Zimmerman’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=1043743&searchLastName=zimmerman&searchFirstName=kurt&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

Udderly Amazing Cities Foundation, Roswell New Mexico

♦ The City of Salisbury, N.C. Awarded the UDDERLY AMAZING CITIES AWARD! Feel Free to Post the Award All Over Town or Use It on Billboards. You Didn’t have to Pay Dues for It Either:

RFP Staff

♦ Unidentified man, who stole $700 from 71 Year-old woman in Salisbury’s Walmart “Subway” in early December, returned the $700 and the victim dropped going forward with the case according to police sources. The unidentified thief and the 71 year-old victim reached a mutual agreement leading to the return of the $700.

The woman did not want to go through with having the man charged–she only wanted her money back.

From a December 9th Rowan Free Press Article: “A Careless Moment Turns into a $700 Christmas Nightmare in Salisbury, N.C.’s Number One Retailer: WALMART SUPERCENTER”

“Don’t be carrying wads of cash in an envelope anywhere in Salisbury during the holidays. Avoid toting a pocketbook.” Hans the Elf

The Walmart holiday nightmare never ended on “Black Friday” even in the midst of “saving money and living better” in hard scrabble Salisbury the town now claiming to have created crime and owning a lost cause 10 gig municipal fiber optic network. Our hearts go out to that 71 year-old woman who absently left an envelope with $700 dollars on the counter after purchasing cookies in Subway around 10 a.m. Thursday.

Ten minutes after purchasing the cookies either a tiny bell tinkled in the senior’s early warning system or a sense of emptiness may have visited her when she reached for an envelope no longer there. Immediately she hurried back to Walmart’s Subway restaurant. Feeling overwhelmed and hoping against hope, she eyed the counter, then asked the Subway worker if she noticed an envelope left on the counter. The worker recalled seeing a Black male take the envelope and leave. A surveillance cam recorded him check out the envelope’s contents before he walked over to a woman seated at a Subway table. Soon the pair left. A video still of the couple is posted below.”

RFP Staff

♦ Rowan Free Press Newsmaker of 2015: CRIME and UNSOLVED MURDERS.

In 2015 CRIME and UNSOLVED MURDERS crowded the news daily in Salisbury, N.C. and Rowan County. Salisbury’s 11 unsolved murders, the almost daily reports of house and vehicle break-ins, the shootings and knifings, the assaults, the issue of public safety in Salisbury, and the county-wide meth, heroin, and crack epidemic was the dominant newsmaker in 2015.

Salisbury Police Unsolved Murders:

http://rowanfreepress.com/2015/08/22/salisbury-police-n-c-unsolved-murders/

RFP Staff

♦ RFP readers raised questions about several incidents of funds embezzled by City of Salisbury employees that are closer to being answered today. How could such embezzlements take place? The financial report for the year ending June 30, 2015 reveals a lack of oversight by City of Salisbury management and that “while documenting internal controls relating to the collections department,” the auditors noted “some personnel have the ability to make certain adjustments without requiring a secondary review. Adherence to all internal controls are not followed.”

Our Associate Editor Todd Paris, Salisbury Attorney noted the audit references in a letter regarding a matter of noncompliance appears in the City of Salisbury’s COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT for the Year ending June 30, 2015 , stating that the auditors of Martin Starnes “noted certain matters that we reported to management of the City of Salisbury in a separate letter dated November 18, 2015” (page 154):

Associate Editor Todd Paris made a public information request to the City of Salisbury, asking that the city release a copy of the letter referred to above. They city complied, sending a copy via Deputy City Clerk Kelly Baker:

In essence, the letter acquired from Martin Starnes, drew attention to Finding 2015-002 in the City of Salisbury’s COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT for the Year ending June 30, 2015 , which is a statement by the auditor indicating that management of the City of Salisbury did not have proper oversight in place to prevent misappropriation of funds by employees who work in the collections department:

What follows is the letter obtained by Todd Paris, in which the text directs attention to the finding sent as a separate letter. There is no explanation as to why the text was not included in the audit finding, as was the text for the other finding (on Fibrant):

Questions remain. Of interest is when the City will reveal what was discussed with Martin Starnes about the “internal controls in the collections department and areas for improvement with management in detail”, as referenced in the Nov. 18th letter?  Additionally, how long have such controls been lacking and what types of misappropriations and “errors” could take place, exactly, during the time these controls were lacking? Is there more to be done, considering the letter was dated Nov. 18th? Martin and Starnes clearly states in the letter that their purpose did not include providing assurance on internal controls. How will the City assure the public that taxpayer monies are not being misappropriated? That assurance is the City’s responsibility, and we would like to know the details backing up that assurance.

Todd Paris, Associate Editor and Salisbury, Attorney

♦ All safe at East Innes Street Waffle House. Kittah and I awoke from napping tenish or so and suddenly the rabbit food and “everything free” (tasty as it was) salad dressing was long gone and my body said “meat, feed me meat!” Everything frozen; I availed myself of one of the benefits of downtown Salisbury living and launched myself at “burger row” to find meat not stuck between bread in keeping with my new life as a Type 2 diabetic. Christo’s (a favorite) was closed, but there appearing in the darkness was my old friend, “Casa de Waffle.”

I like Waffle House. You can get real food day or night. It’s clean and has never made me sick. The waitresses are usually middle-aged or older ladies who sometimes remind me of “the fun girls from Mt. Pilot” (Andy Griffith Show). The service is quick, as long as they stagger smoking breaks, and the coffee is strong and black.

Approaching the familiar door, suddenly I was greeted by a new sign that said, “NO WEAPONS ALLOWED ON THE PROPERTY.” This is no doubt related to a window being “possibly” shot out from the parking lot earlier this month. Thank goodness! We are safe now.

No doubt if members of a local “enterprising social club” were to cruise by and see a member of another unfriendly “enterprising social club” sitting inside and one were to pull a weapon in an attempt to resolve previous commercial disputes; one of his compatriots would certainly say something like, “No dawg, they got this sign up now.”

Conundrums! Well, I could go back to the truck and ditch my Glock and return and try to position myself behind the 6” by 8” “no weapons” sign. I figure it must be made of some space age bullet resistant polymer but, technically my weapon would still be on the property and in violation of the trespassing laws. We who carry concealed holders have to slavishly follow the laws.

Alas, left with a proverbial “Catch 22” situation, I had no choice but to vacate the property. IHOP had no such sign, allowed me to sit facing the entrance and the T-bone, and eggs were all the better for not being stuck in a brightly lit, glass box of a “victimization zone” with no way to protect myself.

Good-bye,  “Casa de Waffle.” I will miss you, but then again, my diet won’t let me eat the hash-browns anymore, anyway.

RFP Staff

♦ Howard Lee Borders, Jr., from the Charlotte area, was arrested for alleged Christmas Eve Shooting into an occupied home on 200 East Horah Street near South Lee Street in Salisbury.

Borders was arrested and charged with discharging a weapon into an occupied property officer inside (felony).  Under a $25,000 secured bond, he is now in the Rowan County Detention Center.

Police were dispatched to the house on East Horah Street after reports of multiple gunshots.  The homeowner, a woman, informed the police that someone pulled up in front of her home and fired multiple rounds into it.  Mercifully no one was hit or injured. No motive is yet known. The case is remains under investigation.

From the RFP Article on December 28th: “Bang Bang Shotzbury! Shots Fired into Two Salisbury, N.C. Dwellings Friday and Saturday on East Horah and at Alexander Place Apts.”

On Friday someone fired into a woman’s home on the 200 block of East Horah Street. The home was said to be occupied. Shots allegedly come from a car stopped in front of the house at around 7:30 p.m. No one was reported injured and the motive is unknown. The shooting remains under investigation.”

Howard Lee Borders, Jr. Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0811832&searchLastName=borders&searchFirstName=howard&searchMiddleName=l&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

200 East Horah:

FCC.Gov

♦ FCC: A Report on Consumer Fixed Broadband Performance in the United States 2015:

https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/reports/measuring-broadband-america/measuring-broadband-america-2015

RFP Staff

♦ Walter Ronald Pruitt, 63, whose last known address was 3040 Stokes Ferry Road in Salisbury and who was on the Rowan Sheriff’s Office MOST WANTED LIST since late October for his alleged failure as a convicted sex offender to notify the Sheriff’s Office of a change of address, was captured Thursday afternoon.

Pruitt, a convicted felon with a lengthy criminal record, was convicted of sexual battery in 2013 and required to register as a sex offender. In October the probation office noted Pruitt was no longer at his given address and reported him.

Thursday Pruitt was charged with sex offender failure to notify change of address (misdemeanor). Under a $5,000 secured bond, Pruitt is being held in the Rowan County Detention Center.

Walter Ronald Pruitt’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0332311&searchLastName=pruitt&searchFirstName=walter&searchMiddleName=r&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

RFP Staff

♦ The Rowan Free Press is fully thumbs up for Salisbury, N.C.’s City Council meetings starting after 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. so working people can show up. We also believe public commenting should occur at each meeting and at a time when public commenters won’t be forced to wait hours.

In the name of transparency it would also be wise for city council to demand its city manager answer public information requests on a regular basis.

And while we’re at it quit handing out golden parachutes.  They divert taxpayer money from needed projects.

RFP Staff

♦ If the public doesn’t watch for fraud, the motivation to prevent it or end it by City management isn’t likely to be a high priority.  Auditors test financial statements, not what people do in city government. Even so, the public can see warning signs of potential fraud and a gradual trend in the last five years of the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports toward increasing vulnerability for fraud.

What makes the City of Salisbury’s government prone to financial fraud, misappropriation of funds, corrupt cover-ups of mismanaged or even hidden funds? Why are there more warning signs now than six years ago? Barring that city management then was better at hiding weaknesses, deficiencies, and violations than they are now, Salisbury appears to be more vulnerable these days to fraud.

Warning Bells about Fraud in Salisbury

Martin Starnes uncovered that Salisbury’s financial statements had “material weaknesses” and “significant internal control deficiencies” in recent years. They also uncovered that Salisbury, NC is in violation of NC General Statutes because Fibrant is operating with a deficit.

Salisbury Has Been in Violation of NC General Statutes for Five Years Due to Fibrant’s Deficit

Over the last five fiscal years, an audit finding each year indicates the City has violated NC General Statutes:

“Criteria: Management should have a system of controls in place to reduce the likelihood that violations of General Statutes occur and go undetected.

Condition: At the end of the current year, the Broadband Services Fund was operating in a deficit (deficit net position).

Context: While reviewing the client’s draft of the financial statements, we noted the condition described above.

Effect: The City was in violation of North Carolina General Statutes” (found on p. 169 of 172 this year).

Salisbury Was Found to Have Both Material Weaknesses and Significant Internal Control Deficiencies

For the fiscal year ending in June of 2014, an audit finding stated that material weakness(es) were identified in internal control over financial reporting. Material weaknesses indicate that there is a reasonable possibility that a misstatement of the entity’s financial statements will not be prevented or detected and corrected on a timely basis. A material weakness in a financial statement can mean that fraud or errors will exist undetected or unreported for a period of time. Such a period of time may provide opportunities for additional fraud (or errors). Over a year may have passed before the controls were placed to end the weakness.

In the latest audit, Salisbury is found to have significant deficiencies identified in the internal controls over financial reporting. Internal controls are practices that lessen the likelihood of fraud and errors in finance reporting. Since people aren’t perfect, the results of any financial report or even audit are likely to contain a small percentage of error. Increasing controls keeps down error and – more importantly – fraud. A deficiency in control might include a failure to reconcile an account, a handwritten receipt by a spender who says he lost the original, or a purchase from a source that is found to be against policy (such as a relative of the official).

Despite findings such as a violation of state statutes, material weaknesses, and now significant internal controls in the financial statements, the City states – as it has every year since 1998 – “We believe the City’s internal accounting controls adequately safeguard assets and provide reasonable assurance of proper recording of financial transactions.”

What Exactly Is the Auditor Responsible for? (Or, Why is Salisbury Still in Violation?)

The auditor does not audit the city’s systems, only the financial statements provided by the management.

What that means for taxpayers is that local government fraud is best contained by the enforcement of strong controls by the City over how each individual manages financial collection and reporting in that institution.

In the City’s report, Martin Starnes & Associates state, “The purpose of this report is solely to describe the scope of our testing of internal control and compliance and the result of that testing, and not to provide an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control or on compliance.”

The auditor is not responsible for the City’s compliance, for recommending prosecution, or for catching fraudsters in action. That is the responsibility of management or any individual who gains knowledge of fraud in the City. The auditor alerts management that weaknesses exist in financial statements and gives suggestions about how to address them in their findings.

Of course, we presume management would want to correct violations, weaknesses, and deficiencies in financial practices themselves – not simply in what is visible in the documents – and not hide fraud or errors.

What Are the Most Dangerous Risks for Fraud in Salisbury? A Look at Management

Unfortunately, the most dangerous risk for fraud is often located at the top of an organization in the management itself. It is most often staff, such as a fellow employee of a fraudster, who notices the misappropriation of funds. They may, however, choose not to report it. This is due to the not-so-surprising fact that whistle-blowers are sometimes persecuted, even fired. Worse still, management itself can perpetrate or hide fraud.

Let’s look at what the experts say about who perpetrates fraud and how fraud can work.

According to documents posted by the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), “Research shows that it is employees and managers, not auditors, who detect most misappropriation of assets and financial statement frauds. To prevent fraud effectively, widespread monitoring by employees and others must be encouraged” Additionally, NADO posts, “Most fraudsters exhibit behavioral traits that can serve as warning signs of their actions. These red flags — such as living beyond one’s means or exhibiting excessive control issues — generally will not be identified by traditional internal controls” (emphasis ours). NADO includes that “small government entities and nonprofits are more susceptible to theft and fraud than any other type of business.”

But what if you have a friend whose job was “eliminated” after he reported suspicious financial activity? Let’s say that your friend noticed money placed into his department’s account and then transferred out after an audit with no documentation for either transfer. After reporting it, let’s say he was informed his position was going to be eliminated to save costs for the city. Would you be as willing to blow the whistle if you notice fraud?

This leads us to a disturbing roadblock to detecting fraud that the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) calls “The Achilles Heel of Fraud Prevention”: management override of internal controls.

Yes, management – either on its own or as directed by those who oversee it – can operate outside detectible fraud prevention measures such as the yearly audit. In such a case, the yearly audit is merely a reflection of what is  presented by the management. Should the management be particularly deft at fraud, or given particularly skilled directions by someone in a higher position, an auditor may not detect it at all. What then? Who is in place to control fraud?

The Achilles Heel of Fraud Prevention: Watching Over Management

According to AICPA, those who design and implement internal controls—management—can also override or bypass those controls. The AICPA states that “management override is very difficult to detect. However, an audit committee can take actions to address the risk of management override of controls[…]

• Maintaining an appropriate level of skepticism,
• Strengthening committee understanding of the business,
• Brainstorming about fraud risks,
• Using the code of conduct to assess financial reporting culture,
• Ensuring the entity cultivates a vigorous whistleblower program, and
• Developing a broad information and feedback network” (emphasis ours).

Where is the City of Salisbury’s Audit Committee?

So, then, where is the City of Salisbury’s audit committee? Where is the objective, external eye that scrutinizes finances? If the City wanted controls to be more strongly constructed and enforced, City Council would have an audit committee in place. Less embezzlements could be a result.

Why doesn’t Salisbury have an audit committee? That such committee does not exist could lead the public to ask if Salisbury’s elected board of oversight, City Council, might possibly not care or might possibly want financial controls to be overridden (it wouldn’t be possible – would it?)?

Surely City Council would not wish the public to think that.

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has crafted a best practice recommendation for how to form and conduct audit committees at the link below. You can read  there on how it can be done. Perhaps City Council will take a long look at it as well.

Since the City’s statement of Accounting Systems and Budgetary Control (on page 12 of 152 of this year’s financial report) has been the same since the year 1998, even when material weaknesses and internal control discrepancies have been included in recent yearly audit findings, it is possible that additional scrutiny may be needed.

Resources

To discover more about detecting and deterring fraud in your local government, look at NADO’s presentation: http://www.nado.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Matheny-detecting-and-detering-Fraud-in-Local-Governments.pdf

To read more about the Achilles heel of fraud prevention at AICPA, look here: http://www.aicpa.org/ForThePublic/AuditCommitteeEffectiveness/DownloadableDocuments/achilles_heel.pdf

The GFOA’s recommendations for forming and conducting audit committees can be seen here: http://www.gfoa.org/audit-committees

View the City of Salisbury’s Comprehensive Financial Report here: http://www.salisburync.gov/Departments/FinancialServices/finance/Documents/FY2015%20Audit.pdf

To learn more about the terminology of auditing and accounting, go here: http://pcaobus.org/Standards/Auditing/Pages/Auditing_Standard_5_Appendix_A.aspx

Learn more about basic accounting principles here: http://www.accountingcoach.com/accounting-principles/explanation

RFP Staff/Landis Police

♦ Ricky Leon Tolson, 22, of Cabarrus, a suspect in the November 20th Sonny’s Supplies armed robbery in Landis, was arrested New Years eve by the NC Highway Patrol on traffic stop in Cabarrus County.  Besides being charged by the NC Highway Patrol for a DWI, Tolson was charged with 3 counts of armed robbery (felony) and conspiracy to commit armed robbery (felony) for the alleged Sonny’s armed robbery.  Under a $100,000 secured bond, Tolson is now in the Cabarrus County Jail.  Ricky Leon Tolson (below):

Landis Police Department reported last month: “Suspect in Landis armed robbery arrested by US Marshals in Texas.

Shortly after executing the search warrant at the Cabarrus County residence of robbery suspect Dominic Brookins, Landis Police investigators developed information indicating that Brookins had fled from North Carolina.

The Landis Police Department contacted the US Marshals Office for the Middle District of North Carolina, and requested assistance from their fugitive task force. Around 4:00 PM today, US Marshals located and arrested Brookins at a home near Fort Worth, Texas.

Brookins faces extradition to North Carolina, where he is charged with 3 counts of armed robbery and 1 count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery in Rowan County, and an additional two counts of armed robbery in New Hanover County.

A second suspect in the robbery, Ricky Leon Tolson, the younger brother of Brookins, remains a fugitive & faces similar charges. The third suspect has yet to be identified.

Anyone having any information regarding the identity of the third suspect is asked to contact the Landis Police Department. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Salisbury Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.

The Landis Police Department would like to thank all of the citizens who provided tips, the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, the US Marshals Office for the Middle District of North Carolina, the US Marshals Office for the Northern District of Texas, and the Parker County, Texas Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.” – Capt. Hosey

RFP Staff/Craig Pierce and Mike Caskey photographers

♦ Saturday morning the Rowan Republican Breakfast Club for Men and Women made its inaugural appearance Saturday morning at Ryan’s in Salisbury.  Craig Pierce, county commissioner and breakfast club facilitator, brought along his friend Salisbury city councilman Kenny Hardin an Independent to join in the conversation. Among the attendees were Rep. Carl Ford, commissioner Mike Caskey, NC Senator Tom McInnis, Commissioner Pierce, Melissa Pierce, Councilman Kenny Hardin, Rep. Harry Warren, Todd Paris, Tom Harrell, Larry Wright, Joe Coladarci, Thomas Haney, Stephen Jeno Johnson, and a number of newcomers. The Breakfast Club meets every first Saturday of the Month at Ryan’s for plenty of idea sharing and thought provoking conversation.

RFP Staff

♦ Rowan County Commission Meets at 3 P.M. Monday January 4th in the J. Newton Cohen, Sr. Room in the County Administration Building at 130 West Innes Street in Salisbury, N.C.

ROWAN COUNTY COMMISSION AGENDA

Call to Order
Invocation
• Provided By: Chaplain Michael Taylor
Pledge of Allegiance
Consider Additions to the Agenda
Consider Deletions From the Agenda
Consider Approval of the Agenda
Board members are asked to voluntarily inform the Board if any matter on the agenda might present a conflict of interest or might require the member to be excused from voting.
• Consider Approval of the Minutes: December 7, 2015 and December 21, 2015
1 Consider Approval of Consent Agenda
A. Task Order 2015/16/01 HDR General Services
B. Task Order 2015/16_02_HDR_Environmental Impact Statement
C. Request Acceptance of Uwharrie Grant For One Church One Child Ministry
D. Proclamation Establishing January 18, 2016 as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in Rowan County
E. Set Quasi-judicial Hearing for CUP 04-15 for January 19, 2016
F. Resolution Revoking Review Officer
G. Resolution Appointing Review Officer
H. Updated Rural Fire Protection Services Contract
I. Approval to Purchase Northwoods Software
J. Healthy Beginnings Grant Application
K. NC DEQ Grant Application for Environmental Management-1
L. NC DEQ Grant Application for Environmental Management-2
M. Prescription Drug Program Grant for the Sheriff’s Office
N. Grant for Video Conferencing Equipment for the Courthouse via Sheriff’s Office
O. Additional Improvements to Chamandy Drive
P. Local Law Enforcement Block Grant for Sheriff’s Office
Q. Acceptance of Sponsorship Agreement from Dick’s Sporting Goods for Sheriff’s Office RCYLC
R. Contract with Tyler Technologies for Tax Assessment Software
S. West End Plaza Phase II Advanced Planning and Master Plan
2 Public Comment Period
3 Quasi-judicial Hearing for CUP 05-15
4 Presentation of Fiscal Year 2015 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
5 Consider Request For Permit Assistant For Building Inspections Department
6 Consider Offer to Purchase Property on Speedway Boulevard
7 Selection of Firm to Perform Sports Complex Feasibility Study
8 Consider Approval of Budget Amendments
9 Consider Approval of Board Appointments
10 Adjournment

For additional information about agenda items:

http://agenda.rowancountync.gov/DisplayAgendaPDF.ashx?MeetingID=177

Citizens with disabilities requiring special needs to access the services or public meetings
of Rowan County Government should contact the County Manager’s Office three days prior
to the meeting by calling (704) 216-8180.

RFP Staff

♦ Todd Motley’s troubles began around 6:15 a.m. Sunday when he noticed a woman, later identified as Blanca Garcia Alejandre, 19, of West Innes Street in Salisbury, who appeared to be experiencing car trouble near Graham’s Grill on Sherrills Ford Road in Rowan County. When Motley pulled into the parking lot and stepped out of truck to assist the woman, Alejandre allegedly told him she was on her way back home to see her baby and her car broke down. Motely offered her give her a ride to her West Innes home and she said okay.

Moments after she got into his pickup, a man in a dark hoodie and a black ski mask appeared at Motley’s window with a shotgun. The masked man ordered Motley out of the driver’s seat of 2012 Dodge Ram pickup and to get in the backseat. Getting out of his pickup, Motley saw the masked man walking to the pickup’s rear. Motley saw his chance to bolt and took off toward a nearby field. Behind him he heard his pickup’s wheels burning rubber. The masked man sped off. Motely headed back home and called 911 dispatch to report the “truck jacking”.

While the Sheriff’s deputies were investigating Motley’s stolen pickup, they learned of another armed robbery on Stanwick Road. Edward Church, the robbery victim, reported robbers who appeared to fit the description of the armed pair that stole Motley’s vehicle. An Hispanic woman and a male wearing a black ski mask and wielding a shotgun. Church started hollering and ran inside his house, slamming the door. The pair fled on foot.

The home break-in brought a large number of Rowan County Sheriff’s deputies to the neighborhood who set up a perimeter and warned area residents to stay in their homes.

A short time later 911 dispatch informed Sheriff’s Office investigators that Motley’s stolen pickup was located on Spicewood Lane and would be towed for evidence gathering.

Not long after, deputies were dispatched to 3041 Sherill’s Ford Road to check on a suspicious female in the area. Blanca Garcia Alejandre was stopped and questioned. She matched the description of the woman involved in the early morning robberies. Soon both Motley and Church positively IDed Alejandre.

At 8 p.m. Sunday a man living on the 300 block of Ferrell Lane reported a male sleeping under his trailer. The man had Motely’s wallet, ID, and Buck pocket knife. The man was identified as 22 year-old Juan Alarcon Alonso.

Blanca Garcia Alejandre, 19, was arrested and charged with 2 counts of robbery with firearms or other dangerous weapons (felony), resist/delay/obstruct public officer (misdemeanor), larceny motor vehicle (felony), and second degree kidnapping (felony).

Under a secured $125,000 bond, Alejandre is in the Rowan County Detention Center. 
Juan Alarcon Alonso was charged with 2 counts of robbery with firearms or other dangerous weapons (felony), larceny motor vehicle (felony), possessing stolen goods (felony), attempted common law robbery (felony), injury to real property (misdemeanor), 2 charges of failure to appear/comply (misdemeanor) and second degree kidnapping (felony).

Under a secure bond of $351,000, Alonso is in the Rowan County Detention Center,

**This article will be updated as more information arrives.**

Blanca Garcia Alejandre:

Juan Alarcon Alonso:

http://rowanfreepress.com/2015/10/15/tips-on-how-to-avoid-and-survive-a-salisbury-n-c-style-carjack/

http://rowanfreepress.com/2014/03/29/best-methods-for-stopping-home-invasions-and-break-ins/

Whitney Peckman, Salisbury, N.C.

**Updated Sunday: East Spencer Town Meeting will be held at 6:30 P.M. Monday January 4th at the East Spencer Town Hall at the Municipal Building at 105 South Long Street, East Spencer, N.C.**

Kids in East Spencer, NC haven’t had their own school in over 45 years. There is no library, bank, or grocery store in the town, and no community center since 2005. ES is very poor, has high unemployment, and is particularly underserved considering that the county uses the demographics for funding projects outside of ES. We have asked the School Board to turn over the administration building (which originally was a school for whites only, and which they will soon vacate) to our group for development as the Sankofa Community Center. We are able to begin programs almost immediately, and in August 2017, It will also house the Paul L Dunbar Charter School. We, the working Board of Directors of PLDCS, believe that our community needs a “family home” for the school and, immediately, for the wrap-around services that go into supporting a neighborhood school. Much research has been done on the needs of families (often with single parents) in high poverty areas – we know these kids need a lot of remedial work to make them ready for kindergarten. Our wrap-around design merges programs for parents, teens, pre-schoolers, and elders. We strive to create the kind of supportive base that kids need to excel as we know they can – given a chance.

The problem is that the Town of ES wants the building for senior housing. However, the Dept. of N.C. State Treasurer has notified the town that they have “serious financial problems” and is “concerned that the current level of fund balance available may be too low to provide your government the necessary amount of savings needed to provide case flow during periods of declining revenues or ebbing case inflows.” It is clear that the Town cannot take on the size of debt it would take to rehab an old school building into housing for seniors.

Win or lose, we will continue with our charter school plans, BUT it will not be able to be birthed as part of the bigger vision and badly needed Community Center for families in need, if we can’t get the old school building for our “house”. Our kids deserve their own neighborhood school – a place to build pride and confidence that their little town can be there for their children. And their families deserve a viable community center in which they can rebuild the sense of community that has been destroyed over the past many years. We ask that you support our vision of a better future for the families of East Spencer, NC.

So many, many thanks for your help!

Videos I and II Deep Problems and No School in East Spencer with Kenneth Lydell Muhammad-El and Whitney Peckman:

To sign the Change.org petition in support of the SANKOFA Community Center and the Paul L. Dunbar Charter School for East Spencer:

https://www.change.org/p/rowan-salisbury-board-of-education-support-the-sankofa-community-center-and-the-paul-l-dunbar-charter-school-for-east-spencer-nc?tk=9HH8XmhlHvWwBoV9iy2erwA4OJ_wn7Mel2tpUGM_ILw&utm_source=petition_update&utm_medium=email

RFP Staff

♦ Today the tragic loss of 936 workers jobs was announced at Freightliner’s Cleveland, N.C. manufacturing plant where Daimler trucks are built.  It is the largest mass lay off in recent years at Freightliner, a Rowan County economic and manufacturing centerpiece and will no doubt send economic shockwaves through beleaguered Rowan County one of the poorest counties in North Carolina.

Friday January 8th marks the final day of work for the 936 employees laid off.

According to sources at the Freightliner plant, the mass lay off was due to reduced orders for Daimler trucks and a slowed manufacturing rate.  The mass layoff will affect about the 33% of the plant’s workforce.

As with previous layoffs of skilled manufacturing workers in Rowan County, it will be difficult to find parallel manufacturing jobs in the area at this time.

Prayers for the workers and their families.

Freightliner WARN Letter(PDF.):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzkWNivTTPA4dVlBNkU0R2JkTU5aQnQyMkRHUTZRYnR3VC1r/view?pref=2&pli=1

Freightliner’s sprawling manufacturing facility in Cleveland, N.C.:

RFP Staff

♦ Video: Rowan County Commission Meeting at 3 P.M. Monday January 4th:

http://rowancountync.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=566

RFP Staff

♦ Brandon Edward Fitzgerald, 30, of Salisbury, was arrested on New Years day for allegedly breaking into two Salisbury area homes between September 2014 and December 2015 and stealing 13 firearms, a pressure washer, a banjo, and a chainsaw.

Between August 8th and December 4th 2015 Fitzgerald allegedly broke into a home 6 times on the 4000 block of Mooresville Road and made off with a chainsaw, a 12-gauge shotgun, 3 .22 caliber rifles, a .357 revolver, a .30-.30 pistol, and a 9 mm pistol.

Between September 2014 and December 22nd 2015 Fitzgerald allegedly broke into a house on the 5000 block of Lakeview Drive 3 times and stole a pressure washer, a banjo, 2 .22 caliber rifles, a 7.5×55 mm rifle, and 3 shotguns.

Fitzgerald allegedly attempted to pawn a number of the items at Reliable Pawn on Mooresville Road and Quick Cash Pawn on Statesville Boulevard which drew law enforcement’s attention.

On January 1st Fitzgerald was arrested and charged with breaking and entering–building (felony), larceny after breaking and entering (felony), larceny of firearm (felony), obtaining property by false pretenses (felony). Under a secured $25,000 bond, Fitzgerald was in the Rowan County Detention Center, but has since been released on bond.

RFP Staff

♦ Michelle Maricunna C. Glenn AKA “Mechelle”, 26, of Grant Street in East Spencer, allegedly sprayed roach killer in Jerome Van Collins’s face at the residence of Glenn’s niece Brittany Nicole Neely, 21, on the 200 block of East Bank Street in Salisbury.

Just after 8 p.m. Saturday Van Collins, 30, of Salisbury, an ex-boyfriend who fathered a child with Glenn, was startled when he answered a knock at the door and allegedly experienced a harsh chemical spray making his eyes water and stinging his nasal passages. Almost as quickly as the roach killer assault began, it subsided. The first wave was over and Glenn left the premises. Neely reported the incident to the police.

Just before 9 p.m. Glenn returned to Neely’s East Bank Street home and knocked at the door. Neely let Glenn in hoping to settle the dispute. No dice–instantly the visitor transformed into a raging incoherent tornado of anger, punching Van Collins and going after Neely. During the assault, Glenn allegedly kicked out a front window and gashed her leg in the process.

Glenn stalked out of the house.

Later at the hospital where Glenn received treatment for her leg, she was arrested by the Salisbury Police and charged with 2 counts of assault–simple (misdemeanor) and injury to personal property (misdemeanor). No bond was entered and Glenn was briefly held at the Rowan County Detention Center. She was released due to the altercation being domestic.

Michelle C. Glenn’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=1057496&searchLastName=glenn&searchFirstName=mechelle&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

Michelle C. Glenn:

Jerome Van Collins: