Second arrest made in Jan. 9 beatdown of local man
By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
The following felony arrests were reported by officers of the Atmore Police Department (APD) during the period February 3-5:
Anthony Armstrong
Armstrong, 59, was taken into custody February 3 in connection with the January 9 beatdown of an Atmore man at a local apartment complex.
The incident happened at Atmore Village Apartments, and police reports show the beating left the victim with several broken ribs and numerous other injuries.
Kennedy Crook, 44, of Atmore was identified as one of the individuals responsible for the injuries, and he was arrested January 13 on a second-degree assault charge. He has since been released from jail.
The victim also identified Armstrong as an assailant, and a warrant charging him with second-degree assault was obtained. He was arrested and booked into the Escambia County Detention Center (ECDC). He was still in the county jail Monday morning, February 10.
Second-degree assault, a Class C felony, results primarily from an attack, with or without a weapon, that leaves the victim with minor or non-life-threatening injuries.
Mark Fullerton
Fullerton was arrested February 5 after an individual told police the 65-year-old Perdido man threatened him while they were both at a local convenience store.
According to reports, the complainant approached an APD investigator, who was also at the store, around 11 a.m. and told the city detective he “had just been threatened by someone.” He pointed out the man’s vehicle as it was pulling away from the store, and a traffic stop was made on East Nashville Avenue.
The reporting officer noted “a strong odor of alcohol about Fullerton’s breath and (Fullerton) had difficulty following directions.” The officer also noted there was a shotgun in the vehicle’s passenger seat.
The Perdido man reportedly failed standard field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI. A criminal background check showed he has a prior domestic violence conviction that prohibits him from owning or possessing a firearm of any type.
A Class C felony charge of being a certain person forbidden to possess a firearm was added to the DUI. Reports show police eventually seized three firearms from the vehicle. Fullerton was processed into the ECDC, from which he has since been released.
Jared Parker
The 27-year-old Bay Minette man was arrested February 5 after he refused to pull over when city police blue-lighted the stolen vehicle he was driving for a minor traffic violation.
The attempted traffic stop took place around 9:30 p.m., on Alabama 21. When the officer activated his blue lights and siren, Parker “refused to stop and accelerated at a high rate of speed.”
His attempt to elude police lasted only for a short time before he reportedly pulled the vehicle over and was taken into custody. Police discovered meanwhile that the vehicle had been reported stolen in Baldwin County.
Parker was booked into the ECDC on one count each of first-degree receiving stolen property (a Class B felony) and attempting to elude a police officer. He was also issued a citation for violation of open container statutes. He remained in the facility Monday morning, February 10.