Four Busted After Convenience Store Burglary, Manhunt

November 29, 2011

Four people from Flomaton and McDavid were busted following an early morning convenience store burglary and subsequent manhunt in Alabama.

About 3 a.m. Saturday, the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office received a burglary in progress call from Anthony’s Country Store southeast of Brewton on Travis Road.  A witness called 911 and told deputies that they heard someone breaking into the store before giving chase.

A K-9 tracking team from Fountain Prison in Atmore located all four suspects nearby.

Courtney Wiggins, age 19 of McDavid; and 20-year old Devenick Thomas, 25-year old Alphonso Wesley, and 20-year old Daniel Woods, all from Flomaton, were each charged with burglary third degree, criminal mischief second degree, theft of property third degree, and third degree trespassing.  The four suspects were booked into the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center in Brewton.

Deputies said entry was made into the store and undisclosed items were taken. The case remains under investigation.

In addition to the Fountain Prison K-9 team, the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Brewton and East Brewton police departments.

Comments

60 Responses to “Four Busted After Convenience Store Burglary, Manhunt”

  1. Tipp on December 2nd, 2011 4:31 am

    What were you guys thinking? It wasn’t that serious now was it? All this time and money you are going to have to spend and for what? Nothing! LIVE AND LEARN!

  2. Brianna on December 2nd, 2011 12:37 am

    I think that saying they need to be hung for this crime is way to harsh and there are child molesters and murders out there that should be hung not somebody who robbed a store AS WE THE FAMILY HAVE SAID SHE WILL DO THE TIME FOR HER CRIME Courtney was wrong for this but to have to read that someone thanks your family member should be hung for this crime is really sad. I love you Courtney and I always will

  3. old school on December 1st, 2011 11:04 pm

    These people are grown and know what they did was wrong. Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time. Some people just make stupid mistakes. Stupid people just do stupid things. This was stupid.. They should be hung just like the old days. If we went back to that type of justice, the world would be a better place.

  4. Mom of 3 on December 1st, 2011 10:36 am

    @ bug!……………….WOW.

  5. My 2 Cents on December 1st, 2011 8:04 am

    @lawful citizen….my apologies for the “colored” word. You are exactly right!! What was I thinking? My apologies again.

  6. Sandra on November 30th, 2011 9:59 pm

    Reading these comments leaves me thinking that our country has no hope. If you do nothing else with your life, please take advantage of the free education.

  7. 429SCJ on November 30th, 2011 6:17 pm

    This young woman is an adult. She can do whatever she pleases, with whomever she pleases to do it with, She has made choices of consequence, and will be held accountable for those choices, Some choices haunt you for life. To say there is not a lesson here would be an untruth,

  8. Free deshae on November 30th, 2011 5:34 pm

    @ bug ur rite i stand behind her to 100% we love u an miss u

  9. bug! on November 30th, 2011 3:51 pm

    @ wiggins bff! u are so rite thats what its all about!! courtney has been my bestfriend sence i can remember! more like a sister if u ask me!..all yall people are so fast to point fingers when none of yall OR YALLS KIDS are perfect!..yall make me sick!..tihs is just a place for noisy people who has nothing better to do with there life to come talk about people & start stuff!.GET A LIFE! .i know courtney is wrong but I DONT CARE! i will stand by her all the way! rite or wrong! she is paying for what she did so chill out! its not like she can read this stuff!..but as a friend & family of course were going to defend her! (i just wish i could write half of what i would like to) i DONT CARE WHO WRITES BACK TO THIS IM NOT GOING TO SIT ONE HERE FUSSIN WITH MOST OF YOU WHO WONT EVEN PUT YOU REAL NAMES! keep your head up tour me && weezer loves u sooo much! (:

  10. Family Friend on November 30th, 2011 3:24 pm

    The family knows that Courtney did wrong. She is not getting out and wont be getting out until her time is served. So everyone insisting that she needs jail time…she is there and not getting out anytime soon. The best way for the family to show they care for her is to leave her there to hopefully learn a lesson.

  11. Jessica on November 30th, 2011 2:20 pm

    To the numerous posters condemning others for “judging” people they don’t know:

    I don’t have to know the individual to know that stealing something that isn’t yours is wrong. I don’t have to know them to know if they in fact are guilty, they deserve jail time. That is fact, plain and simple, regardless of who you are. I’m sorry your loved one got involved in something so idiotic, but she will have to pay the price. Hopefully she will learn from it so she really can be a good mother.

  12. Pikachuu. on November 30th, 2011 12:39 pm

    I know all of them, friends with three of them, and only one of them seems to be the kind of person to actually do something so stupid. But I guess they all are. But all of you people talking bad about them, do you even KNOW them? Didnt think so. Soooo, dont talk about people unless you know FOR A FACT everything that happened, why they did it, and WHO THEY ARE! Mind your own business and quit worrying about other people’s lives. Thank you.

  13. Brianna on November 30th, 2011 11:51 am

    First of all NONE of Courtney’s immediate family are making excuses for her what she did was very wrong and she is where she needs to be for what she has done and WE ARE NOT GETTING HER OUT so she can learn from all of this and I am very sorry for the owner of the store. We still love her just as you would your own family member and we are hoping that she will learn from all of this.

  14. A mother on November 30th, 2011 10:31 am

    Do the crime, do the time. Only way these children will learn.

  15. Lived-here-before on November 30th, 2011 10:07 am

    Ok to all of you saying she is not like this and she needs a break. That is the thinking and attitude that has her here to start with. When we do something like this you are like that. Sorry to bust your bubble but you do the crime you do the time. That is how we treat criminals to keep this little world going round and round. If someone stole from you you would be the first one in line saying lockem up. So just because she is a friend and you hate to see it don’t ask for special treatment. And if you really have that attitude you will be on the news soon for something just like this. All four need to be given their day in court and then pay their debt. End of story so stop with the she is not like that. She got caught and so did the others. Only racist thing I see is all the taking up for her but not the others… Why are they like that and not her? Work for your money your a victim steal for it and get caught your a poor soul that needs a break. SAD

  16. Char on November 30th, 2011 9:14 am

    This is not to anyone but the 4 young people who did this crime.

    Young People….
    Take a look at where you are right now, does that make you happy?
    How are you today, scared, mad, unsure of yourself or what is going to happen to you? How happy or smart to do you feel right not?

    Take the look around and decide right now that THIS is not going
    to be YOUR LIFE!

    Plead GUILTY, take the Consequences and when you get out, try
    to get a GRANT and go to school. Education is the KEY to a happy
    life.

    When this is over, get up early every morning and do something
    constructive for your mother and yourself. Make your bed and
    get a job, go to school and get an education and join a different
    group of people for a happy life and really make your family and
    YOURSELF PROUD!

    Good Luck!

    This is for the girls family…good for you to know to let her look
    at where she is at and not bail her out….I hope all of the families
    involved let them stay and look at where this got them.

  17. HAHA on November 30th, 2011 9:09 am

    BAHAHAHAHAH GET WHAT THEY DESERVE!

  18. Baebae on November 30th, 2011 7:41 am

    Yes….all this is sad…sad for all involved…its sad when kids have no leadership at home to not only teach them but show them right from wrong….its sad when people choose to hang around the wrong people…..its sad when a child is going to grow up in a broken home….its sad when hard working people are violated and have things taken from them….its sad when a group of young people choose to break the law…its sad when it affects the entire family like this has…its sad when you dont know where and what your children are doing…its sad because this will follow them their entire life…its sad when everyone gets to read about a story like this…its also sad to think that they are innocent when they are not.
    But now …. its PAYDAY !!!!

  19. REF on November 30th, 2011 7:04 am

    Jailtime is what all these thugs an I said ALL need.. Out at 3am in the morning robbing some hard working people from what they need to live on .. As for the family maybe a Little tough love would go a long ways quit defending this precious little angel an enabling her ways an let her stand on her own thieving feet with the other ones she was with an learn a lesson.. I’m sure it is hurtful to see your loved ones go through this an people talk about them but hey if the prison shoes fit wear it!!!!

  20. angela jaro on November 30th, 2011 1:59 am

    Did you ever stop to think that the law says if your with someone and they commit a crime that your guilty by association and you could be charged with the same charges that they are charged with? With that being said I wonder how you think it made the 69 year old owner woke up @ 3 am because of your friends,friends breaking into her store. I’m sure she could have had sympathy for your friend situation if she needed help. But, the truth of the matter is she was a big part of the Robbery and maybe you didn’t know your friend as well as you thought you do. I wish that you would consider the situation that your friend allowed her self in with her bad decision. I am not here to trying to slander you or your friend but I would appreciate some consideration for the Victim . Sincerly the Victim’s Daughter.

  21. What if on November 29th, 2011 11:07 pm

    With almost everyone pointing the finger at the guys I just want to ask you 2 simple questions!!! Does the young lady have a mind of her own? And could robbing that store have been her idea? I find it amazing that the guys are considered the dogs and the young lady is the flea. Maybe just maybe it was her GREAT idea to rob that store. It does not matter who did what every last one of these individuals had the option to NOT break into that store. I feel like everyone is just as WRONG as the next. And that all of them should get the same punishment. Who cares about who is black or who is white. The fact of the matter is all of them CHOSE to do wrong!!!

  22. think before you post on November 29th, 2011 10:02 pm

    To Harley : NEVER did I once blame her friends . She is a grown woman and has made her own bed and needs to lay in it ! I to think if you lay with dogs you WILL get fleas . I have always told my own kids that you r know by the company you keep and in Courtneys case that would now be INMATE !!!! I was simply saying that she has a family that loves her NO MATTER what she has done ! And for people to please remember that !

  23. Mallory! on November 29th, 2011 9:03 pm

    For all yalls information courtney isnt like this all yall sayin were makin escuses what if people who DIDNT EVEN KNOW your friend was talkin crap about her. yeah she shouldnt have been out but she was and we cant take that back people make mistakes i know all of you with the rude comments aint perfect so get off of her, we know her better than all of you and if we say we think she didnt know she probably didnt yall need to stop the rude comments because its hurtin the family more. think about the family when you write all this its just mean by what half of yall are sayin. So if you dont know courtney dont put something about she shouldnt of went anyway or whatever that aint gonna take it back all yall sayin the same crap over and over we got it the first time so shut up about it.

  24. Jerry C on November 29th, 2011 7:09 pm

    Lay with trash and you get to be an inmate. I bet she wishes it was only fleas.

  25. free courtney on November 29th, 2011 6:43 pm

    i hope courtney learns a lesson for what she did and i miss and love her so much and for those of u hatein on her and dont even know her yaw cant talk because u dont know her she is my sister and i love her no matter what i love u courtney

  26. just saying on November 29th, 2011 6:09 pm

    You know I can’t understand some people they are are always ready to run their mouth about other peoples family and friends when they commit a crime, but then when theirs gets in trouble oh it was a mistake. They were with the wrong people, they were influenced by someone else. Well I’m here to tell you when kids gets this old they have a mind of their own and don’t have to do what someone else wants them to do. Courtney has always been a head strong girl and needed that butt beat when she was growing up. And no good mommas don’t go out at three o’clock in the morning robbing places. I know this sounds harsh, but if it was my kid I would have to feel the same way even though my heart would be hurting so bad. I know cause been there and know that!

  27. Jack on November 29th, 2011 4:58 pm

    I keep seeing “wrong place, wrong time.” At three AM what is the right place to be? I’d say at work or at home with your baby.

  28. cygie on November 29th, 2011 4:56 pm

    I see four people who made a bad choice. I pray that jail will give them time to re-think their plans for life, and ask God to forgive them. I personally worked with one of the men who were arrested. We all need to NOT JUDGE and PRAY instead. I pray they use jail as a library to get in God’s Word and seek His help.

  29. ily deshae! on November 29th, 2011 3:21 pm

    i cont think courtney knew the guys intentions at the time…. i have known courtney most of my life she is my step sister! i love her with all my heart, i hope she gets out soon and i hope to see her soon… ppl make mistakes and she is paying for hers… but being in the wrong place at the wrong time is exactly wat i say about my sister!! i love you deshae

  30. loving Courtney... on November 29th, 2011 2:42 pm

    Courtney is a great person, and yes she made a mistake…We all make mistakes and we all learn from them. Give her a chance to learn from this mistake that has affected all of us. She is a person that if your down and blue she walks in the room and and it puts a smile on your face. She used to be very close to me and I love her and her sisters more than I can say. I hate to see her in jail but I know that it is a place that will make you grow up QUICK. Lets pray for her and our family that lessons will be learned and Courtney will grow up and be the person we all know she can be!

  31. just me... on November 29th, 2011 2:23 pm

    One more comment….. a person can get mixed up with other people and do bad things (God knows I have in the past), but that doesn’t mean they are a bad person, just that they made some very stupid and bad decisions. Hopefully these bad and stupid decisions will open her eyes as well as the other 3 guys involved and they will turn things around and once again portray the good person people believe they are!

  32. just me... on November 29th, 2011 2:20 pm

    No matter who her family is… she is who she is, she hangs with who she hangs with, she does what she does, and only she will answer and pay for all the above. Yes, others hurt from it but ultimately it is her responsibility and she is who will pay for it, others just have to clean up the mess and take care of her responsiblities while she can’t. Very sad really. Prayers for strength and peace to her family, prayers that they can accept that she is the only one responsible for her decisions and actions, and that others will not let her actions hinder their view of her family. People please remember the comments here do not help anything but they sure can hurt feelings alot more. If it helps some people feel better because they are defending her then perhaps the public should let them voice their opinions without additional comments attacking them, the additional comments do nothing just like the original comments didn’t. Remember, everyone is who they are and your actions or words do not in any way alter those facts! Hugs to those affected by others actions!

  33. Kitty Moore on November 29th, 2011 2:19 pm

    FYI
    Racism is favoring one race over another. Noticing that a person’s skin color is no different than noticing his/her shirt color. They are all orange. Lock-M-Up

  34. Molino-Anon on November 29th, 2011 1:52 pm

    Well I will say, I’m not blaming the family for anything. Being a parent myself, you can only give your children the tools mentally to make the right choices in life. Once they are away, you have to pray to your maker they use those tools to make proper, adult, responsible choices.

    If the family is leaving her in jail to get her straight and re-enforce those tools given, by letting her see what not using those tools can do. I commend them!

    No one can judge anyone, in any of these cases we see on North Escambia BUT our Lord. He is the ultimate judge of our domain.

    What upsets me the most is robbing a local store, most likely owned by a local resident, and could probably be called a “mom & pop store.” Victimismed right here at the holidays. These stores run by what the owners can bring in and keep stocked. When these items are stolen and used for ill, its the same owner that has to cut spending on some items to replenish what is stolen, or take from their own wallets.

    That money used to restock could have been savings for a store owners Christmas, etc. This could have totally ruined another HONEST family’s holiday.

    “We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of ‘peace on earth, good will toward men.’ That must always be our goal, and the righteousness of our cause must always underlie our strength.”

    John F Kennedy

  35. Harley on November 29th, 2011 1:32 pm

    @ Brianna, didn’t mean to hit a nerve. Had you read all the posts and not just the ones from us against criminal activity, you would notice ‘free deshae’ comments (she calls her sis in one of them) about how great she is and how it would not be good for her to spend time in jail because of her child, and that she’s a good person blah blah blah… Good people don’t rob other people. Good people don’t leave their child at 3am to steal from those who work for what they have. You say this is the first time she has been in trouble “like this” that tells us there has to be more criminal activity in her past. Or maybe she’s never been caught before, because it is highly unlikely that someones first crime would be robery, they usually start with smaller crimes and it esculates. So if she was to have killed someone in the process would you still say “she’s a good person, and it’s the first time she’s done anything like this” Not to mention coments by ‘think before you post’ blaming her “so called friends” when it comes down to it the choice was hers. Infuence will get you on a carnival ride, or a blind date…. Not at the scene of a break in.

  36. WhatUSay on November 29th, 2011 12:32 pm

    Based on the responses here, it appears that Courtney is the only one that’s been justified & a victim of circumstance who just happen to be in the company of some bad people……..uuuuuummm sounds like there’s absolutely no way Courtney could be a bad influence on anyone, you think just maybe she was forced to participate………………….I think not!

  37. Think before you post on November 29th, 2011 12:27 pm

    Courtney is a good Mom !! She made a mistake and needs to make new friends ( if thats what you want to call them ) !! She comes from a good family and they are doing the best thing they can for her by leaveing her in jail to learn a lesson ! SO that being said PLEASE she has a family that loves her and they are doing the best they can to get thru this ! Be kind with your comments…. THEY are VICTIMS too !!!!

  38. Molino-Anon on November 29th, 2011 12:06 pm

    @deshae and @wigginsbff,

    First off the phrase “lay with dogs, you get fleas” had nor has anything to do with racism. It has to do with “run around with a bad crowd, you’re gonna get in trouble.” So don’t deflect this as a racist remark, it’s people like you two that perpetuates racism, by calling any remark that involves an African American racist. This brings me to my second point. Who said I was talking about the girl in my remark? If I’m seeing the photo right there are three other people in the photo. Could this be a subconscious thing? Being the good friend you are, you automatically jump on the defensive because she’s white running around at 3am in the morning with 3 African American young men? If you don’t think there’s anything wrong with it, why get defensive? If she’s such a great mother, why get defensive?

    Facts are, they broke into a store, she was with the three young men, it was 3am. If none of that were true I’d tell your BFF to get a lawyer and sue the county for wrongful arrest. Even if she had NO idea what they were up to, and only sat in the car while they broke into the store, she’s an accomplice. If she wanted to do the right thing she could have ran from the car when they broke in, ran to the nearest house and called the law herself, and be taken home were she belongs at 3am in the morning with her child.

    I will retract my previous post and say this in it’s place “They ALL look like thugs, and get what the deserve! Three hots and a cot”

  39. Brianna on November 29th, 2011 11:41 am

    @ Harley this is the first time Courtney has got into trouble like this and nobody of her family is making excuses for her and her family is leaving her in jail so she can learn from this if we were making excuses we would have got her out and be telling her she did nothing wrong but we know she has done wrong people make mistakes and Courtney will pay for her mistake.

  40. Brianna on November 29th, 2011 11:35 am

    Courtney I love u but I hope you have learned a lesson from all of this you need to start thinking about everything before you go and do it . For all the people saying bad things about Courtney she should have not done this at all but she is a great person and sister and we all love her very much and there is always more to the story than people know. Courtney you are where you should be for what you have done but I miss you and hope to see you soon.

  41. David on November 29th, 2011 11:10 am

    Both of ya’al need to look up the defination on racism.

  42. Harley on November 29th, 2011 11:06 am

    Wrong place at the wrong time? I’ll say…. Place being at the scene of a burgulary at least 30 miles from your home. Time being 3am when your a “great mother” and should be home with your child. That particular country store is so far off the beaten path that there is no way this young lady had no idea what the plan was. She is not the only one involved though, she is just the only one who has friend and family on here trying to make excuses for her. I haven’t seen any of the mens friends or family trying to make excuses. For all we know, she was the mastermind behind this, who knows? Stop making excuses for her, your not helping her, your only helping her come up with excuses to tell the Judge. If you did it, you did it, so admit it!

  43. lawful citzen on November 29th, 2011 10:33 am

    @My 2 Cents I agree that the phrase all are referring is not racial, or not meant to be racial. BUT going all the way back and saying “COLORED” is racial. That takes raciam by 100+ years.

  44. molino jim on November 29th, 2011 10:02 am

    She is out running the streets at 3 a/m—does not sound like a caring mother. Some folks also need to get their “spell check” turned on, it’s hard to read what they are writing.

  45. ms shawn on November 29th, 2011 9:59 am

    First of all she being in the “wrong place at the wrong time” is a line all criminals use if she such a good mother her place at 3 am is with her lil boy… What would happen if she broke n the store n the owner was in there n shot her then she wouldnt b in jail or alive these people need to opeen up their eyes 2011 n people r tired of theives stealing their stuff and how wouldnt she know what their entensions at 3 am haha ok i hope i am picked for her jury or any of them not jail but prison is what they all need

  46. uh?? on November 29th, 2011 9:58 am

    u do the crime u do the time

  47. southern by choice on November 29th, 2011 9:45 am

    To all the supporters of this young mother. I don’t know any of these felons, and maybe she loves her child and is a good mother (in your opinion). But the fact remains that she was out at 3:00 a.m. with these three guys when she should have BEEN HOME WITH HER CHILD!!

    Just another sad example of “kids having kids”. . . . . .

  48. My 2 Cents on November 29th, 2011 9:31 am

    @wigginsbff!…..I’ve always heard the saying as “If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas.” An expression I have heard my entire life and used a few times also. However, I do not recall this ever being a racial slur. The meaning to me was always if you hang with the wrong people, you will suffer the consequences. Maybe I am wrong but in looking back, I don’t believe there has ever been a time that I used that expression speaking of, about, or to a colored person, so how can that be construed as racism? Maybe you are just trying to deflect the situation away from your friend as I understand that is easier to do than admitting she may be in the wrong.

  49. jcellops on November 29th, 2011 8:54 am

    this will be a good learning experience for ms courtney..(and the other misguided suspects)…hopefully, she can now pass on the important life-learning lesson to her child that STEALING IS WRONG-ref: “thou shalt not steal”–>ten commandments, per GOD…..glad shes got at least one prayer partner out there.

  50. Free deshae on November 29th, 2011 8:52 am

    @wiiggins bff!!! U r so rite bet if it was someone they love an cared about they wouldnr be so quick to judge we love u deshae keep ya head up sis i love yu

  51. wiggins bff! on November 29th, 2011 8:45 am

    lay with dogs,you get fleas?…sounds like racism to me! smh! that should deff. be stoped!..i have known courtney all my life we have pretty much grew up together she is a good person & a GREAT mother of a beautiful baby boy! dont be so fast to judge her..for all u knnow she could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time! this thing never tells the whole story! & i just love how people are so fast to point there fingers! nobody is perfect! thats whats wrong with the world today!! Anyways i love you courtney & who cares what everybody else says im behind you all the way no matter if you are rite or wrong..keep your head up you will come out on top! I LOVE U!

  52. Free deshae on November 29th, 2011 8:43 am

    @ jessica how do u even kno she went in the store hello u dont!!!! And she may not ha e even knew wat the guys intentions was to they did it have yu ever thought of that??? An i kno her personally an have for 14 years she wouldnt do something like this!!!

  53. FloridaPhysics on November 29th, 2011 8:33 am

    Maybe the girl should have thought about her kid before doing something this stupid. Maybe she should stop hanging with people that does stuff like this. If she did that, she wouldn’t be in this position. So whoever loves her so much should talk some sense into her instead of holding it down in Century for her. What is there in Century to hold down anyway? The only thing that needs to be held down up there is a job. Im a child off the streets of Century, Atmore, Flomaton, Brewton, Bay Minette, Pensacola, and Moblle. So don’t get it twisted.

  54. Jessica on November 29th, 2011 8:19 am

    @Free deshae

    Perhaps she should have considered the child when she was robbing a convenience store. If you rob someone, you spend time in jail. That is how it works. Having offspring does not negate punishment for a crime committed.

  55. billybob on November 29th, 2011 7:53 am

    Mr. Thomas is probally safer in jail then on the streets…. Good place for him.

  56. ms shawn on November 29th, 2011 7:47 am

    Good job poloce it dnt make no sense people out here working hard to make a living for their families and trying to provide for christmas and simple minded people just want a free hand out i own a store n i bet ya NONE of these lil punks wont come try me its ashamed how todays society is but people got to protect their business may God have mercy

  57. Free deshae on November 29th, 2011 7:44 am

    @ molino-anon first off u dont know courtney so dont be quick to judge she is a great person and she has a kid so no it wouldnt be great for her to spend time in jail….

  58. Molino-Anon on November 29th, 2011 7:28 am

    stupid, they should all spend some time in jail. Lay with dogs, you get fleas.

  59. 429SCJ on November 29th, 2011 5:58 am

    A different group of Wiggins, from the ones I know, to be sure.

  60. Free deshae on November 29th, 2011 1:35 am

    We love u court keep ya head up we prayin fo ya put it in gods hands… I love ya so much sis itll be ok i love ya holding it dwn in ctown till ya get home