Atmore man jailed for murder

An Atmore man with a prior violent conviction has been arrested and charged with murder for the April 25 shooting death of Desmond Deshun Dirden, 33, also of Atmore.

Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks announced the arrest of Antonio Albert Crenshaw, 38, 209 Nettles St., last Thursday.

During a bond hearing last Friday, Assistant District Attorney Todd Stearns told District Judge Eric Coale that Crenshaw had three prior felony convictions. He told the judge Crenshaw had been arrested for murder in a 2011 case involving a firearm and pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2013. He also said Crenshaw had a previous drug conviction and was convicted of promoting prison contraband while he was in prison.

He asked the judge for a bond of no less than $500,000. Coale then set the bond at $500,000.

Atmore police were originally dispatched at 1:24 a.m. on April 25 to Patterson Street Apartments in reference to a person who had been assaulted and suffered what appeared to be a gunshot wound.

Atmore police and Atmore Ambulance Service arrived near the 200 block of Patterson Street Apartments and found the body Dirden.

Chief Brooks said Dirden was pronounced dead at the scene and an investigation into the homicide began.

In addition to the murder charge, Crenshaw was charged with certain persons forbidden to have a pistol and receiving stolen property.

During the bond hearing, Crenshaw requested to have a lawyer appointed for his case.

As of press time Wednesday, Crenshaw remained in the Escambia County Detention Center.