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Georgia sheriff steps in after 140 people skipped jury duty
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uDUBLIN, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia sheriff says he had to get involved when nearly three-fourths of people summoned for jury duty in his county failed to show up for court.

WMAZ-TV reports courts in Laurens County faced a small crisis last week when only 60 people showed up for jury duty out of 200 who were mailed subpoenas. Sheriff Larry Dean had deputies make calls to the no-shows Tuesday. He also used the department’s Facebook page to warn that a judge could have any absent prospective jurors arrested.

Dean says enough people were coaxed into court late to make up four juries. He says many of them explained their absences by saying they were busy.

The sheriff says none of the people who failed to answer a jury summons were arrested.


uPOLICE IDENTIFY US POSTAL WORKER SHOT TO DEATH IN LOUISIANA: SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — A coroner’s office has identified the U.S. postal worker shot to death in Louisiana on Saturday morning.

A release from the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office says 52-year-old Antonio Williams was shot while making deliveries in a residential area of Shreveport, around 11 a.m.

Police in the northern Louisiana city say the man was shot in the upper body multiple times and was taken to a hospital, where he died. Police identified Williams using fingerprint comparison. An autopsy has been ordered.

Police were questioning several witnesses, and the Shreveport Times reported that a postal inspector also was investigating.

 

uFLORIDA WOMAN CHARGED WITH GIVING HUSBAND’S GUNS TO POLICE: LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say a Florida woman who claimed her husband tried to run her down with a car is facing charges herself for taking guns from his apartment.

Lakeland Police say 32-year-old Courtney Irby is charged with armed burglary and grand theft. An arrest affidavit says Irby knew her husband Joseph Irby had weapons, so she took them and turned them over to police.

The affidavit says Courtney Irby admitted taking the weapons and that her husband sought to press charges.

The Ledger reports the couple was divorcing. Court records show Courtney Irby applied for a temporary injunction against her husband.

Jail records show Joseph Irby is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in the car incident. It’s not clear if he has a lawyer.