By By Sharon White/The Meridian Star
Dec. 2, 2000
A local businessman has announced a $500 reward for the arrest and prosecution of the person or persons responsible for destroying and burglarizing the vending machines at Southeast Lauderdale High School Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, similar rewards are being offered in car break-ins in October and November at Meridian High School and the Bonita Wal-Mart.
Officials at Coca-Cola Bottling Company are providing the reward money for evidence in the Southeast Lauderdale High School case, said Maj. Ward Calhoun of the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department. The break-ins of 12 vehicles at MHS occurred Oct. 11 while students and their families were at an out-of-town football game. Police Detective Deano Harper said one of the victims in that case is matching the $250 reward offered by CrimeStoppers for information in the case. Police said a break-in of a vehicle parked at Wal-Mart Nov. 11 netted burglars "a large amount" of cash.
Although police are not saying whose car the money was taken from, they said the money was the property of the car owner's employer and that the unnamed business is combining $250 with $250 from CrimeStoppers in an effort to obtain an arrest in the case.
For more information about the rewards, call 485-1860.
Sharon White is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at swhite@themeridianstar.com.