The best and worst of Triad area police blotters, as compiled by Lindsay Craven
NC Baseball Academy employee arrested
After a month-long investigation Jon Palmieri, 32, was taken into custody by the Greensboro Police Department on Aug. 18 and charged with solicitation of a child by computer to commit an unlawful sex act. Palmieri communicated with what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl online for a month before setting up a meeting to engage in sex. Undercover deputies conducted the online conversations and discovered that Palmieri was employed by the NC Baseball Academy in Greensboro after leaving the Wake Forest University baseball coaching staff this year. Palmieri was held at a $5,000 bond.
Armed robbery at ANR
Winston-Salem police officers responded to an armed robbery call at ANR Enterprises on East Sprague Street on at 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 21. The suspects entered the store and produced a handgun, demanding money from the store personnel. The employees reportedly handed over an undisclosed amount of money from the register and the suspects fled the scene on foot heading southbound towards Burgandy Street. No injuries were reported. The suspects are described as Hispanic males, both standing at about 5’5” and around 20 to 24-years-old. One suspect was wearing a red shirt and black jeans with a slender build while the other was wearing a white shirt and blue jeans and a black ski mask. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 336.727.2800.
Arrest made in Wachovia Bank robbery
Winston-Salem police officers made an arrest for the Aug. 14 robbery of a Wachovia Bank located on Country Club Road. Investigators identified Michael Edward Ball, 43, as the suspect. Ball was taken into custody at about 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 18. He was charged with common law robbery and is being held at Forsyth County Detention Center. Ball was also served with an outstanding warrant for arrest for common law robbery pertaining to the robbery of a CVS pharmacy on Hanes Mall Boulevard on Aug. 1. Ball’s total bond was set at $61,000.
Dog walking heist
Shakir Najla Amani, 38, called Winston-Salem police to report an armed robbery on Aug. 22 at about 9:20 a.m. Amani said she was walking her dog when three black males approached her. One of the suspects was wielding a knife and all three men had their faces covered. The suspects robbed Amani and fled the scene. Amani describes the suspects as all wearing dark clothes and ski masks; she was not sure of their age and heights. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 336.727.2800.
