Two individuals were indicted by a Jones County Grand Jury last week for the charge of influencing a witness, which was the direct result of a theft case from the previous month.
Edward Jerome Broadus Jr. and Chamikka Latrica Goodman were indicted on the charge April 8.
Goodman, 34, was arrested March 19 and Broadus, 31, was arrested April 2 after warrants were issued for their arrests.
A report of the incident leading to the arrests by Gray Police Officer Dylan Joiner stated he met the complainant at the Gray Police Department March 18. The business owner said he had been receiving calls and texts from Broadus, who is a former employee. He said Broadus offered him $1,000 to drop a pending theft case against him.
The complainant said Broadus had also been contacting a current employee offering more money. The offender’s sister, Goodman, had been to the business with the same offer in attempt to get the theft charges dropped.
Joiner said he verified the information received and secured warrants for the arrest of Broadus and Goodman.
The report about the underlying case was also by Joiner. The officer said he was dispatched to a local auto parts store Feb. 18 in reference to an attempted theft. He was told by the complainant that Broadus had ordered items from the store online, using the business account of his former employer, and then tried to pick the items up.
Broadus was told by the store clerk that the owner had to be contacted to verify the purchase was for the business. Joiner said during a conversation with the clerk, it was discovered that Broadus used the account Feb. 14 for other car parts.
The business owner said those parts were not for any autos on his lot.
That transaction was later verified by the clerk that handled the sale, and a warrant was secured for Broadus’ arrest. He was arrested Feb. 20 and charged with theft by taking felony.
Goodman has been released on a $7,500 bond. Broadus remains in custody without bond.
