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Traffic stop nets murder suspect
The man in the car was wanted in North Carolina.
LIBERTY — A routine traffic stop along one of the township’s busier streets resulted in an arrest for murder, robbery and drug abuse.
According to police reports, Officer Robert Altiere pulled over a 2000 Volkswagen shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday on Liberty Street for making a lane change without a turn signal.
Inside the Volkswagen were Wendell Caldwell, 38, who listed a motel on Belmont Avenue as his residence, and Jawdy Tannette Austin, 30, of West Middlesex, Pa. Those names, however, were not readily given to Altiere.
According to police reports, Caldwell and Austin initially refused to roll down the windows or unlock the doors to communicate with the officer. Eventually, a rear window was rolled down, but reports say the couple continued to fidget in the seat, and Caldwell refused to give his name or any other information.
Eventually, Caldwell simply said, “My name’s David.” Altiere called for assistance.
Reports say officers noticed Caldwell pull a plastic bag, which officers believed to be crack cocaine, out of his front pants pocket and tuck it between the seats.
Caldwell and Austin were ordered out of the car, but Austin was taken to the ground for failure to follow officer commands.
Once officers had taken Caldwell and Austin to the Liberty Police Department for questioning, they discovered Caldwell’s true identity and learned that he was wanted on robbery and murder charges in North Carolina.
The unveiling of Caldwell’s identity seemed to be a surprise to his companion, Austin. She told officers she met Caldwell, whom she knew as David McCoy, a few weeks ago and had been living with him at the Knights Inn off Belmont Avenue.
Caldwell was charged with drug abuse. He is being housed in the Trumbull County Jail on that charge as well as the murder and robbery warrants.
Austin was charged with obstructing official business and resisting arrest. She was released on a personal recognizance bond and is expected to appear for a hearing Tuesday in Girard Municipal Court.
jgoodwin@vindy.com