Savannah-Chatham police Friday announced they had expanded their search for a wanted man considered armed and dangerous and had captured another.
The search for 21-year-old David Randy Daniels Jr. was expanded to Florida and South Carolina, said Julian Miller, police spokesman. Daniels is wanted for the July 30 murders of Syheem Spaulding, 15, and Dominique Bright, 18, and the shooting of Sha’nai Harris, 15, at East 39th and Cedar streets.
A second fugitive, Toney Coppock, 23, was arrested Thursday night by members of the U.S. Marshals Southeastern Regional Fugitive Task Force and Downtown Precinct officers who were searching a residence with consent of the resident on East Bolton Street, Miller said. Coppock was armed when he was captured and was in possession of ammunition and narcotics.
Coppock has been charged with criminal attempt at murder, aggravated assault and violation of probation for the shooting of Gerald Williams, Jr. on the 3100 block of Skidaway Road on July 16, Miller said.
During Coppock’s apprehension, police also arrested 18-year-old Elaunah Burroughs for hindering apprehension, a felony, and 23-year-old Brittany Coppock on a Chatham County contempt of court warrant.
Violent Crimes detectives continue to ask anyone who knows the location of Daniels not to approach him but to call Emergency 911 immediately, Miller said.
People can also call CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). Tipsters to remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
A confidential tip directly to investigators is also open at 912-525-3124.
Man convicted in carjacking
A 20-year-old man was convicted Friday of armed robbery and related charges in the January 2012 hijacking of a Gulfstream employee’s car.
A Chatham County jury found Rashond Wesley Baker guilty of armed robbery, aggravated assault with the intent to rob, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, hijacking a motor vehicle and four counts of possessing a firearm while committing a felony, said Chatham County District Attorney’s spokesman Daniel Baxter.
During the trial Assistant District Attorney Isabel Pauley told the jury Baker approached the victim about 7 a.m. on Jan. 9, 2012, pulled out a handgun, and took the man’s 2002 BMW.
The victim, who at the time was preparing for work, called 911 and police quickly spotted Baker driving the vehicle in the area of Louisville Road and Stiles Avenue.
When the officer attempted to pull Baker over, he accelerated and fled. After a short chase the suspect abandoned the car and led police on a foot chase before he was captured, Baxter said.
Baker was positively identified in a photographic line-up by the victim and forensics officers obtained a fingerprint on the interior driver’s door that was positively matched to him.
Baker had been arrested and charged with a similar crime in Fayetteville, N.C. in 2010, but that trial had not yet occurred.
Baxter said Baker is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 25 in front of Chatham County Superior Court Judge James F. Bass.
11 charged in scheme
Two federal indictments, unsealed Thursday in federal court, have charged 11 defendants with conspiracy to commit theft of public money and access device fraud in connection with fraudulent tax returns.
Both indictments allege the defendants illicitly obtained and possessed debit cards and tax refund checks stemming from the preparation and submission of fraudulent tax returns.
The initial court appearances were held Thursday morning. in the Federal Courthouse in Statesboro.
FBI Special Agent Marcus Kirkland, IRS Special Agent Gwen Weston and Statesboro Police Department Sgt. James Winskey led the investigation that led to the indictments. The United States Marshals Service, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia State Probation Office, Sylvania Police Department and the sheriff’s offices for Bulloch and Screven counties assisted in the arrests of numerous defendants.
The defendants include:
• Richard Parker, 60, of Sylvania
• Eula Mae Rodriguez, 47, of Sylvania
• Tacarro Morgan, 25, of Sylvania
• Sirbrina Bangs, 26, of Statesboro
• Dequillia Hill, 43, of Sylvania
• Kandice White, 25, of Sylvania
• Aleceia Lovett, 29, of Statesboro
• Cierra Johnson, 22, of Statesboro
• Danielle Clark, 26, of Statesboro
• Devang Shah, 32, of Sylvania
• Tameika Clark, 24, of Statesboro
Compiled by Gale Baldwin and Corey Dickstein