Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 11, 1993                   TAG: 9305110166
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI                                LENGTH: Medium

GRAND JURY TO GET MURDER CHARGE AGAINST PULASKI COUNTY BUSINESSMAN

Price, 50, of Mountain View is charged in the death of Lester Dale Harris, 46, a Fairlawn man whose body was pulled from the New River off Hazel Hollow Road on Dec. 21.

Harris, who had been missing for five days, died of drowning and one lethal wound, according to an autopsy report.

A former employee of Price testified that he was in a car with Price and Harris on Dec. 16 when they stopped on Hazel Hollow Road.

John Quigley, Price's attorney, said Alfred "Marty" Albert testified that Price told Harris to get out of the car and Albert also got out. Albert testified he heard a shot and saw Harris go over a bank near the river, Quigley said.

A charge of using a firearm to commit a felony also was sent to the grand jury by Judge Ed Turner.

Albert testified that Price, who owns Price Paving and Construction Co. in Dublin, told him to throw Harris' body into the river and threatened to shoot Albert, too. Albert said he later heard two more gun shots go off. The next day, Albert testified, he threw the gun off a bridge into the New River.

Capt. Donnie Simpkins of the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office testified that Harris' body was found in the New River under some brush at about 11:30 a.m. Dec. 21.

When Price was charged with Harris' death, authorities characterized the killing as the result of a drug deal gone awry.

An investigation revealed that Harris and others had sold marijuana for which Price provided the money. The marijuana turned out to be of lesser quality and quantity than agreed on, Sheriff Ralph Dobbins said in December.

Dobbins said the shooting apparently stemmed from an argument over a deal in which Harris sold marijuana that had been laced with a chemical, making it heavier and less pure than it was supposed to be.

Harris is alleged to have been supplying marijuana to some employees at Price's company, Dobbins said.

Dobbins said there were witnesses who said Harris had agreed to repay an unspecified amount of money.

When Harris was first reported missing, authorities did not know they were dealing with a homicide, Dobbins said. The discovery of Harris' shoes and wallet prompted a search of the river for his body.