AREA NEWS IN BRIEF

Police: Burglar was after beer, smokes

An intoxicated burglar who allegedly stole beer and cigarettes from a convenience store didn’t make it very far because a patrol officer overheard the store’s burglar alarm, Decatur police said Friday.

The officer who heard the alarm at about 4 a.m. Wednesday went to the Bud’s station at 1106 Sixth Ave. S.E. and found a glass door broken, said Detective Lela Alexander.

Alexander said officers found Jimmy Lee Bales, 38, of 79 Harold Drive S.W. not far from the store.

Officers caught Bales in a foot chase and arrested him on charges of public intoxication and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors.

After store surveillance video confirmed that Bales broke into the store, investigators charged him with third-degree burglary, Alexander said.

Bales remained in Decatur City Jail late Friday. He will be transferred to Morgan County Jail and held in lieu of $750 bond on the felony charge.

Seth Burkett

Driver charged with DUI has no priors

ATHENS — A bus driver charged with driving under the influence has worked 19 years for Limestone County Schools without a previous incident.

According to Danny Bates’ personnel file, he was hired Sept. 26, 1988. Bates drives the Tanner route.

According to Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Junior Whitt, Bates, 54, of Athens, was charged with misdemeanor DUI for liquor Aug. 11. He was off duty, driving his personal vehicle.

Superintendent Barry Carroll would not refer to Bates by name but said the system has had no problems with the bus driver arrested for DUI. He said the system would take no action unless the charge leads to a conviction and license suspension.

Holly Hollman

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