Suffolk News-Herald

Police officers, with the help of local citizens, have apprehended 29 of the 35 people that have appeared in the Suffolk News-Herald’s weekly &uot;Crime Line Wanted&uot; since it began in January, said Officer Michael E. Simpkins, spokesman for the Suffolk Police Department.

Twenty-one of the 29 captured people had their police photos run right alongside the information that included their name, race, age, height and weight, last known address and the crime for which they are charged.

&uot;With their photos in the News-Herald, these wanted people really can’t hide for too long,&uot; said Simpkins, who oversees the Suffolk Crime Line program. &uot;In putting this information and the photos out there, people are calling in to provide information about the whereabouts of those listed in the stories.

&uot;Those calls are invaluable in helping us apprehend these people who had previously eluded capture.&uot;

Some people are listed on serious charges, including malicious woundings, rape, assault and battery, and drug charges. Others are wanted for violation of probation, breaking and entering, and burglary.

Crime Line serves as a link between the public and law enforcement, Simpkins said.

When someone calls the hotline at 539-1222, they give their information to Simpkins or leave a message of his Crime Line answering machine.

Callers will never have to give their names. Simpkins will assign a &uot;Crime Line Code Number&uot; to callers when he speaks with them, or when they call back to obtain the number.

&uot;We don’t want to know who the callers are,&uot; said Simpkins. &uot;All we want is information on the offender. With the Crime Line Code we assign to callers, they can pick up their cash reward by giving only that number, no names, no social security numbers, nothing but the code number.&uot;

More proof that Crime Line Wanted listings work comes from looking at statistics. In 2002, Simpkins issued 70 code numbers to civic minded individuals who reported on the whereabouts of wanted people or where police could recover stolen property or drugs.

Also, last year, police apprehended 32 people, and every one of them was convicted. Police recovered $15,796 in stolen property and another $5,275 in narcotics, resulting in 21 cash rewards being paid for a total payout of $5,200.

Simpkins said he expects the number of codes and the number of arrests to greatly increase this year, since people have already called in to turn over 35 individuals wanted on police warrants.

&uot;Just from last week’s listings, police officers brought in 13 people,&uot; said Simpkins. &uot;We only had 15 listed last Saturday, so that’s proof that Crime Line works in Suffolk. We are especially grateful to the civic minded individuals who took the time to call Crime Line, and we will issue rewards as soon as we hold our board meeting this month. At the same time, these callers have helped removed criminals from the streets of Suffolk.&uot;

To make a report to Crime Line, call 539-1222.

Crime Line Wanted for the week of March 6, 2003

Robin Hall, 550 Second Ave., DOB 6/29/57, black female, 5’2&uot; tall, 181 pounds, wanted on three counts violation of probation, and third offense larceny.

Gregory Donnell Holland, 320 Ben St., DOB 7/30/58, black male, 6’0&uot; tall, 180 pounds, wanted on three counts violation of probation, petit larceny, habitual offender, and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

James Edward Kea, 356 N. Main St., DOB 7/30/58, black male, 5’11&uot; tall, 157 pounds, wanted for violation of probation, and possession of cocaine.

Tyrone Kea, 309 1/2 Pitchkettle Rd., DOB 12/1/55, black male, 5’11&uot; tall, 170 pounds, wanted for two counts of violation of probation, and two counts of worthless checks

Arthur Moore Corbin, 3626 Kenny Ln., Portsmouth, DOB 5/29/67/ black male, 5’11&uot; tall, 220 pounds, wanted on three counts violation of probation, assault and battery, destruction of property and statutory burglary.

Shaundra Janet Peebles, 123 Chestnut St., DOB 12/6/69, black female, DOB 5’6: tall, 170 pounds, wanted for violation of probation, and possession of cocaine.

Darin Sutton, 300 1/2 Broad St., DOB 3/2/64, black male, 6’3&uot; tall, 175 pounds, wanted on two counts violation of probation, and two counts of third offense larceny.

Percy Thomas, 4620 W. Norfolk Rd., Portsmouth, DOB 5/24/43, black male, 5’7&uot; tall, 156 pounds, wanted on two counts of direct indictment, driving under the influence, and a suspended license

Lawrence William Upton Jr., 4204 Cardinal Ln., DOB 1/3/77, white male, 5’9&uot; tall, 150 pounds, wanted on two counts of violation of probation, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of

cocaine.

Tony Majette Jr., 127 S. Wellons St., DOB 8/18/82, black male, 6’0&uot; tall, 130 pounds, wanted on two counts of violation of probation, assault and battery, abduction, two counts of failure to appear, hit and run property damage.

Gary Blount, 510 Ashley Ave. or 806 Dill Rd., DOB 1/15/85, black male, 5’8&uot; tall, 125 pounds, failure to appear, breaking and entering and grand larceny.