AREA NEWS IN BRIEF

Woman allegedly hit during robbery

A woman told officers an acquaintance hit her on the head with a barbell before running off with her purse, Decatur police said Tuesday.

Police Capt. Vince Baer said the 23-year-old woman was babysitting her boyfriend’s son Monday when the child’s mother apparently called and asked to come over for a visit.

The woman told police the mother came to her home in the 1300 block of Fifth Avenue Southeast at about 4:45 p.m., hit her on the head with a barbell, grabbed her purse and fled, Baer said. The purse contained medications, cash and a phone among other contents, according to the report the woman filed with police.

Seth Burkett

Decatur man says friend stabbed him

Drug use and drinking apparently led up to Saturday’s stabbing of a Cullman man in Northwest Decatur, police said Tuesday.

No arrests have been made in the attack on Joseph August Koch III, 25. Koch claimed a friend he knew only by first name attacked him inside his vehicle at about 4 p.m., said Decatur police Capt. Vince Baer.

Koch told police he and his friend had been driving around, drinking alcohol and smoking crack cocaine, Baer said.

“They got in an argument. (Koch’s friend) stopped the car. The victim said he hit him several times. He did not see a knife, but he knew he got stabbed a couple of times,” Baer said. The wounds Koch suffered to his right shoulder and left forearm did not appear life-threatening, Baer said.

An ambulance took him to Decatur General Hospital for treatment.

Seth Burkett

Town Creek chief completes program

TOWN CREEK — Police Chief Jerry L. Garrett completed 80 hours of the Law Enforcement Executive Program recently, said Belinda Blackburn, director of Continuing Education at Jacksonville State University.

“This is a mark of success for Chief Garrett as well as for the city of Town Creek for its support of the advancement of law enforcement management principles,” Blackburn said.

Garrett was awarded the certificate Aug. 23 at the Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Auburn. Examples of courses included in the program are: update on harassment, discrimination and disability issues.

Nancy Glasscock

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