Local PAL member named national male youth of the year

Ormond Beach Observer
News

Also: Police seek shoplifting suspect.

Marcus Edwards, a member of the Ormond Beach Police Athletic League, was awarded the National PAL Male Youth of the Year for 2013 at a national awards celebration at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on July 24.

Edwards, of Holly Hill, joined Ormond Beach PAL when he was eight years old in 2003 after being encouraged by his father, Liviston Edwards, South Ormond Neighborhood Center coordinator. He became one of the hardest working basketball players OBPAL has had, according to a police department spokesman.

Edwards is a member of the Youth Directors Program and has served on the state PAL Youth Advisory Council and Youth Conference Committee.

His projects have included organizing a coastal and river clean-up, working alongside crime prevention officers during National Night Out and collecting items donated to the Domestic Abuse Council. He has also delivered food and gifts to shut-ins during the holidays.

Edwards graduated from Mainland with a grade point average of 4.0. He plans to study physical therapy at Florida Atlantic University.

Suspect threatened store employees

The Ormond Beach Police Department is seeking a suspect who attempted to steal motorcycle parts, and then threatened employees with a bat and a knife before escaping on a motorcycle from Wal-Mart, 1521 W. Granada Blvd., about 4:30 p.m. on July 21.

After being confronted, the suspected threatened a loss prevention officer with an aluminum T-ball bat. He then dropped the bat and left the store.

In the parking lot, he approached a sport-type motorcycle and threatened the assistant manager with a knife after the manager attempted to take his license plate number. He said, “If you get close, I will hurt you.”

The suspect left the parking lot along with another motorcycle.

A security camera recorded the suspect changing clothes behind a Texaco Station, 1629 W. Granada Blvd.

He is described as a white male, 30-35 years old, about 5 feet ten inches tall and 180-200 pounds. He has brown hair and a brown beard.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 677-0731, Criminal Investigations Desk at 676-3514, or Crimestoppers at 277-TIPS or 1-888-277-TIPS.