By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
The following felony arrests were reported by officers of the Atmore Police Department (APD) during the period October 19-25:
Michele Darby
An Atmore woman surrendered to Escambia County Detention Center (ECDC) officers October 24 after an APD investigation that began in 2023 led to charges of identity theft against her.
APD Sgt. Darrell McMann reported that the investigation was launched September 22, 2023 after a local resident reported that his former girlfriend might be using his identity without his permission.
“The victim checked his credit history and noticed several financial accounts he did not apply for,” McMann reported. “The victim suspected his former girlfriend, Michele Darby, age 52 of Atmore, was involved.”
Subpoenas were sent to several financial entities requesting information on several accounts, and it took most of a year before all the requested records were received by police, who then secured a search warrant for Darby’s residence.
Police investigators seized documents and electronic devices from Darby’s home. An examination of the data obtained from the devices, along with the seized documents and financial records, led police to believe Darby had illegally used the man’s identity, and a warrant was issued for her arrest.
Darby surrendered to jail officers and was booked on one count of identity theft. She reportedly posted bond and was released. No mugshot had been published on the jail website by Tuesday’s press deadline.
Kelvin Cooper
A 48-year-old Atmore man was arrested October 23 after another individual reported the man had borrowed his car and refused to return it.
According to police reports, officers escorted the owner of a vehicle to a Brown Street residence around 10:10 p.m. They had been told by the owner that Kelvin Cooper had “borrowed the vehicle from the owner and refused to return it or allow the owner to retrieve it.”
Police contacted Cooper at his residence, sitting in the vehicle in question. Officers noted “a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.” Cooper reportedly also had a marijuana cigarette in his hand as he was being questioned.
One of APD’s new K-9 cops was brought to the scene, and the dog “alerted” on the vehicle, prompting a probable cause search.
The search turned up “several grams of fentanyl, several grams of marijuana, and items used to package narcotics,” and Cooper was arrested.
Cooper was processed into the ECDC on one count each of drug trafficking, second-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He remained in the facility Monday afternoon, October 28.
Tarvarsa Wiggins
An Atmore man was arrested October 24 on a felony drug possession charge after a policeman on routine patrol saw him stumbling as the walked along East Ridgeley Street around 5:30 a.m.
The officer stopped to check on the man, later identified as 34-year-old Tarvarsa Wiggins and discovered Wiggins had an active misdemeanor warrant with APD for failure to appear in court on a charge of fourth-degree theft of property.
Wiggins was placed under arrest, and during a search incidental to the arrest, the officer discovered a small amount of crack cocaine. He was booked into the ECDC on one count of possession of a controlled substance.
Wiggins did not appear on the ECDC jail roster on Monday, October 28, indicating he was most likely released on bond. The jail website does not include a mugshot of him.