Fire & Police Briefs: Stabbing of Wilkes County man, 46, is being treated as homicide, officials say

By: JournalNow Staff | JOURNAL STAFF AND WIRE REPORT
Published: December 12, 2009

WILKESBORO -- A Wilkes County man whose body was found outside his home Thursday died after being stabbed, authorities said yesterday.

Bruce Ellis Barnes, 46, of 1595 High Rock Road in Boomer was found in front of his mobile home at 6:15 a.m., said Sheriff Dane Mastin of Wilkes County.

Dr. Patrick Lantz, a Forsyth County medical examiner, and Mastin said that Barnes had several stab wounds in his chest.

Investigators are treating the case as a homicide. No arrests have been made.

"We are still talking to people of interest," Mastin said.

Four charged with drug offenses

MOUNT AIRY -- Authorities charged four men Thursday with several felony drug offenses in connection with an undercover drug operation.

The men were arrested at an auto- body shop off U.S. 52 in Mount Airy. Undercover officers had bought illegal drugs there since September, Sheriff Graham Atkinson of Surry County said yesterday.

According to Surry court records, they are:

□ Christopher Lamar Williams, 21, of Mount Airy, who was charged with two counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, felony possession of a firearm by a felon, and other felony and misdemeanor charges.

□ Williard Junior Asbury, 31, of Holly Hill, S.C., who was charged with two counts of felony possession with intent to deliver cocaine, and other felony and misdemeanor offenses.

□ Cory D. Johnson, 23, of Mount Airy, who was charged with felony possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, and other misdemeanor offenses.

□ Bobby Dean Brown, 33, of Mount Airy, who was charged with four counts of felony possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and cocaine, and other felony and misdemeanor charges.

Williams, Asbury and Johnson were being held yesterday in the Surry County Jail in Dobson. Williams' bond was set at $125,000, Asbury's was set $150,000, and Johnson's at $50,000.

Brown was released from jail after posting a bond of $75,000.

2 children die in SUV-train wreck

DURHAM -- Officials are investigating a train accident that killed two children and injured their mother Wednesday when their sport utility vehicle was stopped on the tracks.

Paul Worley of the N.C. Department of Transportation said that inspectors were checking the signals Thursday to make sure that everything was working properly.

Eyewitnesses told authorities that the SUV had been stopped by rush- hour traffic and became trapped on the tracks when the crossing gates came down as the train approached.

Authorities said that 9-year-old Calvin Brandon and 6-year-old Hasan Bingham were killed when they were thrown from the SUV. Their mother, Deborah Peaks Bingham, was treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

None of the 129 people on the train was injured.

Woman, 18, killed during chase

LINCOLNTON -- Authorities said that an 18-year-old woman died after she lost control of her truck during a chase with a trooper.

Michelle Taylor Platt of Lincolnton was killed when her truck left the road and crashed through some trees about 10 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

The N.C. Highway Patrol says that Trooper J.B. Thornburg tried to stop Platt for speeding on N.C. 279 near Cherryville, but she would not pull over. Platt made several turns before losing control and crashing through a line of trees and into a ditch.

The Highway Patrol is investigating. Troopers say they are trying to determine how fast Platt was going.