Suspect arrested on attempted murder charge

staff report
Published: July 3, 2008

A Salem man charged with shooting an Auburn man in the face turned himself in to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday, LCSO Capt. Van Jackson said.

Sheriff’s deputies and area law enforcement officers had been looking for Jonathan Simpson, 59, to arrest him on an attempted murder charge. He bonded out on a first-degree assault charge June 18, when the incident occurred. He was charged Wednesday with attempted murder.

Simpson was released on $50,000 bond Wednesday, Jackson said.

Simpson’s attorney called the sheriff’s office and arranged for Simpson to turn himself in, Jackson said.

Simpson has been charged with shooting Edward Craig Crum, 67, who was checking on land he owned in the Salem area. Crum has since undergone surgery and was in stable condition in a Birmingham hospital this week, according to a family member Monday.