Published: January 13, 2009 07:42 am      

Richmond officer injured in foot chase

A Richmond police officer was injured Sunday morning while pursuing an Owsley County man on foot after a car chase through downtown.

Officer Kelly Rouse suffered a knee injury while pursuing Michael D. Congleton, 24, of Booneville, as he fled.

Rouse had attempted to pull Congleton over after clocking Congleton’s car at 62 miles per hour in a 25-mph zone on Main Street. Congleton turned onto N. Fifth Street, sideswiping a pair of parked cars, and continued to Lyndale Avenue, where he fled the car on foot.

During a 100-yard chase across three yards and privacy fences, Congleton was apprehended.

Congleton was charged with speeding, driving on a suspended license, driving under the influence, second offense, two counts of first-degree fleeing or evading police, reckless driving, resisting arrest and two counts of leaving the scene of an accident.

He was lodged in the Madison County Detention Center.

Bad checks

Richmond police are investigating two separate incidents involving bad checks passed at local businesses.

Cumberland Valley National Bank reported Thursday that a check for $480 written on a closed account was cashed at the bank’s Lexington Road branch. The suspect, identified as Heather Hughes, received $400 in cash from the transaction.

A subsequent investigation revealed the check was written on a closed account, and Hughes has allegedly cashed several other checks written on closed accounts at area businesses.

Police also are investigating an apparent forged check passed at a local store Jan. 4.

The owner of Discount Tobacco, located on E. Main Street, reported Friday that a check for $460 drawn on the account of Mid-South Metals Inc. of Campbellsville had been cashed at the business by a man calling himself Michael E. Larson.

Any business that has cashed a check for either individual is asked to contact the investigations division of the Richmond Police Department.

Robbery nets $5 in CDs

A pair of armed robbers made off with just $5 in CDs and promotional flyers after robbing two men at gunpoint Sunday.

The victims reported that as they left a friend’s home in the 700 block of N. Third Street, two black males approached them on foot with handguns and forcibly searched the men.

The robbers took a backpack containing three CDs and a stack of promotional flyers for an event at a local bar before fleeing on foot.

The victims described the robbers as being at least 5 feet, 10 inches tall, with one being slightly taller than the other. Both men were wearing masks.

Drug trafficking arrest

Police on Sunday arrested Lonnie D. Lewis, 33, of Norwood Drive, and charged him with trafficking in marijuana, trafficking in controlled substances near a school and possession of drug paraphernalia following a search of his home.

In executing the search warrant, police found a number of marijuana cigarettes, drug paraphernalia and a handgun.

Police said this was Lewis’ second arrest for drug trafficking in recent months.

Other crimes:

• A patron of the Blue Moon bar on E. Irvine Street reported Sunday that a group of more than 15 men assaulted him behind the bar.

The victim reported that two men on Elm Street began speaking to him, and when he approached, a group of more than 15 young black men jumped from behind some bushes and began beating him before fleeing on foot.

The victim suffered a cut above his left eye and an abrasion above his right eye in the assault, police said, and was treated and released from Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center. Officers were unable to locate any of the suspects near the scene.

• An apartment resident in the 400 block of High Street reported Friday her ex-boyfriend kicked open the locked front door of her apartment and began brandishing a firearm during an argument.

The pair were exchanging text messages regarding a child they share when the suspect became enraged, went to the apartment and kicked the door in.

The victim hid inside a bathroom, which the suspect forced his way inside and began waving the gun. After a brief verbal exchange, the suspect left.

Police are still investigating the incident.

• A former Edwards Avenue apartment resident reported the theft of a Christmas card containing a $100 check from her former address.

The card had been sent to the apartment in the 700 block before the victim and her son moved, police said. The mother received a card addressed to her, but the son’s card containing the check never arrived.

The victim reported the check was later cashed by a third party who forged her son’s name, police said. The investigation is ongoing.

• A woman living in an apartment in the 500 block of Hampton Way reported Saturday that a man broke into her apartment. The woman said she encountered the man outside her apartment after he asked for the telephone number for a cab company.

The woman went to her apartment and went to bed when she heard the sound of glass breaking in the downstairs portion of her apartment. She encountered the same man on the stairs inside her apartment, where he attempted to grab her, police said.

The woman fled to a nearby apartment, where she called Richmond police. A search of the area revealed a broken glass patio table and an open rear window, but the suspect was not found.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned Asian man, wearing a Kangol-type hat, a jacket and blue jeans. He may have fled toward Hallie Irvine Street following the incident, police said.

• A Sony X-Plode CD car stereo was reported stolen Thursday from an unlocked car parked outside an apartment in the 300 block of High Street. The stereo was valued at $100.

• A Jason Drive resident reported Thursday that an iPod and several checks were stolen from his locked car outside his apartment in the 400 block between Jan. 3 and Jan. 4. The victim reported the crime after his bank informed him one of the checks had been cashed in the amount of $275. Police are investigating the theft.

•Police arrested Maricruz G. Parker, 41, of the Hiers Mobile Home Park on Friday after discovering five Tramadol tablets and a codeine tablet in her purse during a traffic stop on Edwards Avenue. Parker was charged with first- and third-degree possession of a controlled substance.

• The owner of the Texaco station on the Eastern Bypass reported Friday that $250 had been stolen from the cash register.

A part-time employee was convinced by the suspect that he was there to clean the business, and stole the money from the register while cleaning behind the counter. Police are still investigating the theft.

• A resident in the 300 block of Fifth Street reported Friday a white pit bull was stolen from his back yard. The dog, which answers to the name Angel, was wearing a red collar and was valued at $75.

• A Woods Trail apartment resident reported Friday that a black iPod and its white alarm clock base were stolen along with a Sigma Pi fraternity banner during Eastern Kentucky University’s winter break.

The resident returned to his apartment in the 100 block and discovered that his locked bedroom door had been broken open. There were no signs of forced entry into the apartment. The items were valued at $450.

• A Jimmy John’s patron reported Saturday that $200 was stolen from her purse while at the restaurant.

The victim left her purse at the restaurant shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday and called the restaurant upon discovering the missing purse.

Employees had located and secured the purse, but the victim discovered $200 was missing upon retrieving the purse.

• Police discovered Saturday that someone had kicked in an office door at Richmond Cold Storage on Four Mile Road, but nothing was taken.

• Troy N. Mallory, 36, of Danville, was arrested Monday for drug possession following a traffic stop on S. Kilarney Lane.

Mallory was taken into custody when police discovered an outstanding warrant against him. A search revealed a marijuana cigarette and a small amount of what police believe is cocaine. Mallory was lodged in the Madison County Detention Center.

Anyone with information about any of these crimes is asked to call the Richmond Police Department at 623-1162 or 623-8911.

Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.