Brazen Carjacking on Broad Street

A teenager was busted today for robbing a woman of her car along Broad Street.

According to authorities, the victim was approached at 10 o'clock this morning by 17-year-old Uriah Sterling on the 300 block of Broad Street. The teen displayed a gun and demanded the keys to the victim’s vehicle.

The suspect then took the victim's keys and drove away in her vehicle. Deputies searched the area for the victim's vehicle and found it nearby with Uriah still inside. He was charged with armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

We're not sure how Uriah planned to get away with the robbery if he was going to carjack someone and then ride around in the vehicle in the same neighborhood. But then again, they don't call them dumb crooks for nothing.

Not Good with Children or Checks

Tammy Pond, 43, of Beech Island, was charged with failure to pay child support on Saturday night.

Apparently, this deadbeat mom has problems with children and checks. Previous charges for the middle-aged woman include unlawful conduct toward a child and three separate arrests for fraudulent checks, according to jail records. In the case of the checks, records indicate she's been charged with issuing 23 bad checks.

Maybe she was trying to pay child support with the bad checks?

CCSO: Man Terrorizes Grandma

A man was charged Friday with terrorizing his grandma, threatening to "rip her throat out" and yanking her phone out of the wall when she tried to call 911, according to Columbia County authorities.

Harry Tommy Douglas, 24, was reportedly upset that his grandmother had a trespassing warning issued against his girlfriend. He allegedly entered his grandmother's bedroom and pushed her onto a bed, according to a sheriff's report.

"Tommy told her he was going to kill her and rip her throat out if she caused any more trouble," a deputy wrote in his report. "(The victim) stated she was in fear of her life and tried to call 911. ... When she picked up the phone to dial 911, Tommy ripped the phone from her hand and then from the wall. (She) was able to call 911 from her cell phone. When Tommy realized she had called 911, he fled the scene prior to deputies arrival."

Mr. Douglas was captured Friday and arrested on charges of simple battery of a person over 65 years old and interfering with calls for emergency assistance. He remains in jail today under a $3,200 bond.

Man Dies Two Weeks After DUI-Related Crash

A man who was beyond drunk when he crashed his vehicle in Aiken County died today at the Medical College of Georgia.

Aiken County officials say 32-year-old Jerica Tyler of Batesburg died today. He was transported to MCG after a single-vehicle crash on Feb. 12 near Wagener, according to Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton.

Mr. Tyler was driving a 1997 Mercury in the early hours on the 12th when he lost control of the vehicle on Old Shoals Road near Wagener. The vehicle left the southbound lane and overturned. Mr. Tyler was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle back onto the roadway.

His BAC was .297% which is three and half times the legal limit of .08%. Cause of death was multiple body trauma.

The Jail Report is trying to determine if this is the same Jerica Tyler who was shot in Monetta in December. According to a press release from that incident, Jerica Tyler of Batesburg was shot twice on the right side of his body on Rankin Road. He was taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital after that incident.

Pharmacy Fraud

A North Augusta woman's been busted for trying to obtain prescription drugs by fraud.

Sally Bishop, 40, was arrested Thursday afternoon on a felony charge of attempt to obtain prescription drugs by fraud, according to jail records.

It appears Ms. Bishop was caught before she was able to obtain the drugs. Some states have developed prescription monitoring programs, which can help prevent and detect the diversion and abuse of pharmaceutical controlled substances and lead to arrests.

In fact, there are a variety of responses to prescription fraud that are used by police, pharmacists, and others to try to prevent and address this crime, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy. They include:

• improving pharmacists' screening of prescriptions and patients
• employing security measures (for example, use tamper-resistant prescription pads)
• prescribing drugs electronically
• creating a database of customers
• using police crackdowns to target specific doctors/pharmacies
  

Father Arrested for Spanking Daughter Too Hard

An Augusta father has been arrested for spanking his daughter too hard.

Authorities say 24-year-old Donovan Jones left a bruise on his 19-month-old daughter's buttocks the size of a hand, according to a sheriff's report.

The child's mother, Whitney Times, took the girl to Doctor's Hospital for treatment, but she told authorities that she didn't want to prosecute the baby's daddy because it was an accident. The suspect does not live with the child's mother.

Mr. Jones reportedly told his daughter's mother that he spanked their daughter three times last month "after she moved magnets from his refrigerator." An investigation led an officer to report the incident to the Department of Family and Children's Services, and charges were later filed against Mr. Jones for cruelty to children in the second-degree, a felony.

The suspect was featured on the Wanted page of The Jail Report, and he surrendered just hours after the issue hit the streets, authorities said.

One note: Investigators say this young father has seven children. And he is only 24 years old!

Pair Busted for Stealing Hair Coloring Worth $5

Two young women from Augusta were busted Tuesday for shoplifting a $5 hair coloring pack at King's Beauty Supply on Dean's Bridge Road.

Breona Isaac, 18 (top), and Chelsea Worthem, 19 (bottom), were each charged with shoplifting the item because they tag-teamed the theft, a report states.

Store employee Yong Byon told authorities he observed the women walk into the store together and then go to the aisle where the "Each Jazzing" hair color item was located. Breona pointed to the item and Chelsea picked it up, took it to another aisle and then exit the store with her friend.

Mr. Byon stopped the suspects and found Chelsea with the $5 item in her purse. A responding officer heard Breona tell Chelsea to "tell them she wasn't involved." But Chelsea was overheard saying "They got us on camera talking about it, I aint gonna lie to them."

The two were then arrested and taken to the Richmond County Jail.

Augusta Businessman Hunts Down Car Thief

A car thief in Columbia County picked the wrong house to target this week.

A well-respected Augusta businessmen stumbled upon the suspect in his driveway in Columbia County on Tuesday night and ended up chasing the man down and helping authorities catch him, according to a sheriff's report.

Vincent Willis, 24, was busted Tuesday on charged of aggravated assault, entering auto to commit theft and driving under suspension.

A sheriff's report described what happened when businessman Fred Daitch arrived at his Evans home Tuesday:

Mr. Daitch, owner of International Uniform, arrived home about 10 p.m. and pulled up to his mailbox. He saw what he thought was his son or daughter leaning inside of his daughter's car and yelled out, "How about cleaning out the car while you are in there?" He called his daughter's name three times with no response and realized something was wrong.

Mr. Daitch pulled up the driveway and saw the suspect, who was wearing a dark jacket with white stripes on it. The man exited his daughter's vehicle, ran and jumped the fence to his back yard. The homeowner dialed 911 and gave a description of the subject and what happened.

A dispatcher told Mr. Daitch to stay home until deputies arrived, but the businessman decided to get into his vehicle and drive to the street behind his house to see if he saw the suspect walking down the street. As he drove down the street, he saw the would-be thief get into a burgundy Honda Accord that was backed into the cul-de-sac.

He watched as the suspect started the Honda and then drove off at a high rate of speed with no lights on, running through several stop signs. Mr. Daitch followed the suspect and managed to get in front of the Honda as he attempted to get the suspect to slow down or to stop, but the man drove around him. Mr. Daitch again went around Mr. Willis, but this time he started driving over into Mr. Willis' lane to get him to stop.

The suspect then rammed his Honda into the passenger side of the victim's truck at North Belair Road at Evans to Locks Road. That's where the suspect lost control of his vehicle and went off the west shoulder of the roadway into a field.

Mr. Willis got out of the vehicle and ran west behind American Gas on Evans to Locks Road. After a short foot pursuit, Mr. Willis was caught and arrested by deputies, who had apparently arrived on the scene at that point.

The victim owns International Uniform on Broad Street, a business that sells golf apparel and accessories as well as medical uniforms. In 2006, he was named the Small Business Person of the Year by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Meth Maker

A North Augusta man was charged this week with a serious methamphetamine offense.

James Bragg, 34, was charged Monday by Aiken County sheriff's investigators with "conspire or attempt to manufacture methamphetamine," according to jail records.

Mr. Bragg is a repeat offender with multiple arrests in Aiken County over the last decade, including arrests for assault & battery of a high & aggravated nature, criminal domestic violence, disorderly conduct, multiple traffic offenses and forgery.

Child Molesters?

Two area men have been charged this week with child molestation in unrelated cases.

In Columbia County, 22-year-old Andrew Graham of Martinez (top) was charged Monday with the felony offense. He's accused of repeatedly molesting a young girl who he knew, according to a sheriff's report.

In Richmond County, 27-year-old James Terrell (bottom) was charged Tuesday with aggravated child molestation after a girl confessed this year that the suspect made her perform oral sex on him in 2004 when she was 6 years old.

UPDATED: Two More Arrested in Cleveland St. Murder

Two more suspects have been arrested in connection with the Dec. 28 shooting death of Henry Stokes at 1931 Cleveland Street.

Marqueem Jermaine Mays, 25, of Augusta (top), and 22-year-old Dominique Demario Ellis in Augusta (bottom mugshot) have each been charged with murder in connection with the Dec. 28 shooting death of Henry Stokes at 1931 Cleveland Street.

Mr. Mays, who was in custody on an unrelated matter, was charged Friday afternoon with murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and aggravated assault. Mr. Ellis was arrested Tuesday and charged with murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and aggravated assault.

Last week, Richmond County authorities arrested 23-year-old Bennie Bell in the slaying. The victim was shot to death at his home on Dec. 28. His body was found in a boarding house located at 1631 Cleveland Street.

Internet Predator from Evans

An Evans man has been charged with using MySpace to solicit sexual intercourse from an underage girl.

Joshua David Taylor, 21, of Evans, was arrested last week in an Internet Predator case investigated by the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.

The suspect is accused of soliciting sex from a girl identifying herself as a 14-year-old girl. Mr. Taylor went on to arrange a meeting with the girl for the purpose of sexual intercourse. Before a meeting could take place, the case came to the attention of the Aiken County Sheriffs Office, and a request to MySpace produced information leading to the suspect.

Mr. Taylor was arrested for criminal solicitation of a minor, a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

A search warrant was executed at the man's home by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office and resulted in the seizure of three computers, including a desktop unit and two laptops.

The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney Generals Office. The Aiken County Sheriff's Office is a member of the Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

Unlawful Use of Telephone

Aiken County authorities have charged two people with unlawful use of telephone in separate cases over the last 24 hours.

Chelsea Stone, 26, of Windsor (top), was charged with the offense this morning. Jail records show she was just one previous arrest in Aiken County - a March 2008 for criminal domestic violence.

But criminal charges are nothing new for 35-year-old Kevin Winburn of Aiken. He was busted early this morning for unlawful use of telephone, the second time in seven months that he's been charged with the offense. In addition, he has a long criminal record that includes charges for harassment, trespassing, burglary, DUI, probation violation and domestic violation of a court order.

UPDATED: Driving Drunk with Grandchildren Inside Vehicle

A North Augusta woman was charged with drunk driving Saturday night with a child in the car.

But that's not all.

According to jail records, 44-year-old Cheryl Johnson was in possession of controlled substances and was illegally carrying liquor in her car. And if that wasn't bad enough, she wasn't even supposed to be driving because she didn't have a driver's license, according to authorities.

Update: The Aiken Standard waited five days to report this, but the paper did a full story on this on Feb. 24. Click here for the link. It seems this lady was carrying around her grandchildren and blew a .17 BAC, over twice the legal limit!

Son Arrested for Burglarizing Father's Home

An Evans man told authorities that a burglary at his home was likely committed by his son, and deputies later found the man's son with incriminating items, a sheriff's report states.

John Perry, 21, was charged Thursday with one count of felony burglary and committed to the Columbia County Detention Center, where he remains today under a $10,100 bond.

The suspect's father, Dennis Perry, told authorities that a burglar gained entry to his home on Rocky Shoals Circle using his ladder to climb to the second story and pry off the lock to the rear bedroom window. The burglar took items worth $300 (items not described in the report) and left the rest of the home untouched.

A Richmond County sheriff's deputy went to the suspect's home and found him with a basket "which the listed items were in at the time it was taken." The younger Perry was then taken into custody.

Mom Doesn't Care About Son Anymore

An Augusta mother abandoned her 11-year-old son at a convenience store and then told authorities that she "didn't care what happened to him," according to a sheriff's report.

Angela Paschall, 32, has been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The incident occurred in November, but the mother fled to Atlanta afterward and was not captured until Wednesday, according to jail records.

A sheriff's report spells out what happened on Nov. 28, two days after Thanksgiving:

Officers got a call to respond to Espinosa Street to the home of the 11-year-old boy's grandmother, Ruthie Mae Paschall. The grandmother told authorities that her grandson came to her home and said his mother had made him exit her vehicle outside Kervin's Corner Store on Peach Orchard Road. She then drove away. When the grandmother contacted Angela Paschall to come get her son, she refused.

An officer called the suspect over the phone, and she claimed her 11-year-old son had run away from the store. When the deputy asked Angela Paschall to come pick up her son, she refused, saying, "I'm tired of this s***. I've been calling police every time he runs away, and y'all won't never help."

The mother refused to retrieve her son and said she didn't care what happened, even if she went to jail. She told the officer that they could contact the Department of Children and Family Services, and that she "is tired of dealing with the actions of her son."

The mother told the officer that she had driven to Atlanta and didn't care what happened to her son.

Officers contacted DFACS and the 11 year old was turned over to them.

How Public Drunkenness Can End

We're not sure how he hurt his head, but jail officials say 59-year-old Keith Bryant of North Augusta came to the jail with the bandage on.

North Augusta public safety officers busted him last night for disorderly conduct for being drunk in public, according to jail records. Maybe they realized how intoxicated he was after he hit his head?

Whatever the case, we think he might have had one heckuva hangover.

She Took Her Boss to the Cleaners

An Augusta woman's been busted for embezzling $10,000 from the dry cleaners where she worked.

Shalonda Harris, 26, was charged Wednesday with felony theft by taking. The thefts allegedly occurred between August and February at K&D Dry Cleaning & Laundry at 2114 Lumpkin Road.

Complainant David Smith told authorities that Ms. Harris had worked at his store since August before he realized she was stealing money. The suspect allegedly stole nearly $10,000 by discounting customers' purchase by 100% after they left the store and then pocketing the money they had paid.

Mr. Smith notified authorities on Feb. 4 that he had discovered the thefts, and an investigation led to Ms. Harris' arrest on Wednesday. She remains in jail on a $11,200 bond.

She might have taken her boss to the cleaners, but Mr. Smith hopes to get the last laugh.

Breaking News: Pregnant Teen Murdered; 15 Year Old Charged

UPDATE: 15 year old Loviet Nushawn Edwards surrendered tonight at the Law Enforcement Center, where he was charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of 16-year-old Tykiah Palmer and her unborn baby. He was also charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

A press release from Lt. Scott Peebles explains what happened:

This evening at about 6 p.m., the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting call at 2156 Ramblewood Drive. Upon arrival, officers learned that a 16 year old female had been shot . The victim was taken to MCG where she later died. The victim was approximately 7 months pregnant. An emergency caesarian was performed, but the child died a short while after the procedure.

While the investigation is still in the initial stages, the following has been learned: Edwards and the victim were involved in a verbal altercation in the roadway near the front of Edwards’ residence. At some point during the altercation, Edwards produced a handgun and shot at the victim multiple times, striking her at least once in the torso. There is no indication that the victim and Edwards have ever been involved in a romantic relationship. There is also no indication at this time that the incident is gang related.

Edwards will be charged as an adult.

Woman Attacks Her Baby Daddy

A Hephzibah woman's been arrested for attacking her child's father with a mop handle and then stabbing him in both arms, according to a sheriff's report.

Lasharra Dean, 33, of Teakwood Drive, was charged last week with one count each of battery, simple battery and cruelty to children.

According to a report, the suspect came home Feb. 12 and got into a fight with her child's father because she didn't call him while she was out. The victim, 36-year-old Eulester Fleming, got angry and grabbed Ms. Dean's telephone before locking himself in their bedroom.

Ms. Dean became enraged and kicked in the door and struck Mr. Fleming in the face. She then retrieved a mop handle and struck him with that. Finally, the woman got a steak knife and stabbed the victim once in each arm. The victim was able to jump over the bed and run out of the house, a report states.

A responding deputy observed a blood trail going out of the house and the broken bedroom door. Mr. Fleming was transported to University Hospital for stitches to the cuts while Ms. Dean was arrested.

Because the fight and stabbing took place in front of the suspect's 12-year-old daughter and 16-year-old daughter, Ms. Dean was charged with child cruelty.

RCSO: Drunk Man Molests Four Children

An Augusta man told authorities he couldn't remember molesting a group of children on Valentine's Day because he was "highly intoxicated," according to a sheriff's report.

James Tuck, 46, was charged today with sexual battery and three counts of child molestation for acts that allegedly occurred in the wee hours of the morning of Feb. 14.

According to a report, Mr. Tuck was visiting a home on Alpine Drive just after midnight on Feb. 14 when he laid down in a bed where four children were trying to sleep. The children included a 4-year-old boy, a 9-year-old girl, an 11-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy. At least one of the victims was related to Mr. Tuck, according to a report.

While laying in the bed with the group, Mr. Tuck allegedly began molesting the girl, trying to remove the girl's pajamas and putting his hand in her pants. When the 16-year-old boy realized what Mr. Tuck was doing to his sister, he punched Mr. Tuck in the chest and told him to stop, a report states.

At one point, Mr Tuck went to the bathroom and would not leave when the 9-year-old girl said she had to use the bathroom. The older boy physically removed Mr. Tuck and guarded the bathroom while his sister was inside. Back in bed, Mr. Tuck began touching the 16-year-old boy, the report states.

Finally, the 16 year old got his brothers and sisters out of the bed and went into the living room to sleep "without further incident."

The sheriff's office was called the next morning. It's not clear from the report what other adults were present in the house. The Department of Family and Children Services were notified and custody of most of the children were given to a grandmother, the report states.

Mr. Tuck was told not have any contact with the four victims until the investigation was complete. He was arrested earlier today.

Murder Suspect Identified in December Killing

Richmond County authorities have arrested a suspect in a drug-related slaying from December.

Bennie Bell, 23, was arrested on a murder charge on Saturday, according to jail records.

Henry Mendez Stokes was shot to death at his home on Dec. 28. His body was found in a boarding house located at 1631 Cleveland Street.

Mr. Bell is charged with murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is being held without bond in the Richmond County Jail.

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Wine Glass to the Head

A Martinez woman was arrested last week for attacking her boyfriend with a wine glass and then using the broken pieces as a knife to cut him, according to a Richmond County sheriff's report.

Sara Jones, 34, was charged with battery. She is accused of attacking 36-year-old Brian Smith at his home on Pendleton Road in Augusta.

According to the victim, the couple were drinking Feb. 9 and got into a fight over a pack of cigarettes. Ms. Jones had demanded that her boyfriend pay her for the cigarettes that she bought him or return the pack.

He refused to do so, and she "picked up a wine glass and struck him in the head with it," a report states. "She began to use the remaining piece as a knife."

Ms. Jones allegedly cut her boyfriend on his left forearm, left wrist and the left side of his back. While trying to remove the glass from Ms. Jones' hand, the victim broke his girlfriend's right wrist, a report states.

Ms. Jones ran from the home, but a deputy found her at Doctor's Hospital, where she was being treated for her wrist injury. Mr. Smith was transported to University Hospital for his injuries, which also included a deep bite mark.

Needless to say, we imagine Valentine's Day did not go so well for the couple.

101 mph on the Interestate

Not so fast, Collin.

Aiken County authorities busted 20-year-old Collin Cole with driving 101 mph along Interstate 20 on Saturday afternoon. That's enough to get a person arrested. But the Atlanta man was also found with marijuana in his possession, according to jail records.

It's so funny how someone will try to zip through a county and end up spending so much time there as a result.

Man Charged with Abusing Ex-Girlfriend's Son

An Augusta man's been charged with abusing his ex-girlfriend's son when she allowed him to take the boy for overnight visits, a sheriff's report states.

James Mims, 32, of Augusta, has been arrested on a charge of cruelty to children.

The victim's mother told authorities that Mr. Mims whipped the boy and left bruises and marks on the left side of his face, left arm and left leg. "The skin around the areas were broken and some bleeding was also present," a report states.

In the report, Mr. Mims was described as "an old boyfriend and had been picking up the victim and keeping him overnight from time to time." The incident occurred between Feb. 5 and 6.

Gotcha! Suspect Who Skipped Court is Captured

A robbery suspect who skipped town before a court hearing in Aiken is back in the hands of authorities.

According to jail records, 18-year-old Trayko Ontario Marshall was booked into the jail Friday night.

The teen failed to appear for that hearing on Jan. 4, leading a Circuit Court Judge to issue a General Sessions bench warrant for his arrest for failure to appear. The hearing was related to charges of armed robbery, kidnapping and burglary.

According to authorities, Mr. Marshall was first spotted near his Kentmont Street home on Friday, but he ran away. The sheriff's office called out the Aiken County Bloodhound Tracking Team, and Mr. Marshall was captured.

Mr. Marshall was initially charged with restraining a woman with duct tape in July during a robbery at Northside Bait & Tackle.

NADPS: Man Sent Obscene Letters to Paul Knox Middle School

North Augusta Department of Public Safety investigators arrested 66-year old Gary W. Summer today for allegedly sending "vulgar, obscene and immoral" letters to a teacher and vice principal at Paul Knox Middle School.

Two anonymous letters were sent to the middle school addressed to Vice Principal Dr. Lloydette Young and Teacher Susan Hubbard during the past few months, a press release states.

"Based on the content of the letters and the timing that they were received, a suspect was identified," said Lt. Tim Pearson in a press release. "The investigation led to the grandfather of a Paul Knox student. Mr. Summer admitted to acting alone and to sending the letters based solely on his own personal frustrations with an unrelated school matter that he thought was not handled properly."

He was arrested and charged with obscene messages to women. He was booked and later released on a $1,097.50 bond.

Augusta Fraud

Someone seems happy to be in jail.

This is 21-year-old Beverly McGruder, who was busted Thursday in Richmond County on a charge of financial identity fraud.

Identity fraud and identity theft are no laughing matter. According to the Federal Trade Commission, 1 in 6 Americans will be a victim of identity theft this year alone. In the last 12 months, 9.93 million people have had some type of identity theft crime committed against them.

Victims spend on average $1,200 in out-of-pocket expenses and an average of 175 hours in your efforts to resolve the many problems caused by identity thieves. Criminal identity theft occurs when an imposter gives another person's name and personal information such as a drivers' license, date of birth, or Social Security number (SSN) to obtain a job, housing, money, goods, or other services. Or, the imposter may present to a counterfeit license or form of ID containing another person's data.

So we can only hope the justice system will hold Beverly accountable if she is convicted. And maybe they will wipe that smile off her face.

Annie Steal Your Gun

The Aiken Standard is reporting today that two young women were charged with stealing guns in Ridge Spring.

We've got the mugshots of 24-year-old Tina Driggers (top) and 18-year-old Mary G. Huggins (bottom), who are each charged with two counts of second-degree burglary.

According to The Standard, a 26-year-old man called authorities to report that he saw the pair breaking into a home on Clayton Road. According to the man, he saw the women knock on the door, enter the back of the home and then leave with firearms. The man said he saw their vehicle heading toward his home, so he armed himself with a shotgun. He then held the women at gunpoint and called the sheriff's office, The Standard reports.

Officers found the women with guns and a piggy bank full of change.

A Real Shiner

That hurts just looking at it.

That's 41-year-old John Hoard, who is sitting in the Richmond County Jail right now with one heckuva black eye. He was busted today for theft by conversion.

The victim, Stephen Bayazes Jr. of Belvedere, told authorities that Mr. Hoard worked for him and took a trailer and toolbox without his permission. Mr. Bayazes didn't even know his handmyman had taken the items until he was in Augusta at an acquaintance's house and saw the trailer. When he asked the acquaintance how he got it, the man said Mr. Hoard had sold him the item. Busted!

No details yet on what led to the black eye, but we are wondering whether the victim didn't like having his stuff taken. Just a theory.

Couple Charged with Faking Burglary for Insurance Scam

Columbia County authorities have charged a couple with faking a burglary at their Evans home and filing an insurance claim for more than $4,500 in jewelry.

Kevin Patat, 32 (bottom), and his wife, Amanda Patat, 32 (top), are accused of filing a false police report and creating a fraudulent insurance claim.

On Jan. 14, Mr. Patat reported a burglary at his residence on Brook Trail in Evans. He told a deputy he had locked all doors and windows on Jan. 13 and returned the next day to find the kitchen window shattered and on the kitchen floor.

He told authorities that he discovered his wife’s jewelry box missing from the master bathroom linen cabinet. He said the box contained his wife’s platinum wedding ring with a blue sapphire stone and diamonds, which Mr. Patat valued at $4,500. He also reported the theft of $200 gold earrings, a $50 silver charm bracelet and a $150 handheld mixer from the kitchen.

An investigation led to Mr. Patat’s arrest on Friday. Mrs. Patat was arrested Tuesday.

Attack with a Golf Club

An Augusta man's been arrested for attacking another man with a golf club.

Tremell Walker, 26, was charged Friday with aggravated battery, a felony.

The victim, 37-year-old Brett Palmer, told authorities that he was arguing with Mr. Walker about the suspect's sister when Mr. Walker struck him in the left forearm with a golf club on Jan. 14. The victim suffered a one-inch gash and was transported by ambulance to University Hospital to be checked for a possible broken arm, according to a sheriff's report.

When authorities asked Mr. Walker about the alleged assault, he claimed the victim "fell on yard debris." But an deputy found a Tour-model mid-size sand wedge in a garbage can outside the suspect's residence, where the argument began, leading to the arrest.

No Joke

A homeless man was busted early Sunday for offering to tell jokes for money in downtown Augusta.

Someone complained to authorities about 27-year-old Cameron Yazelle panhandling in downtown Augusta. An officer found him walking in and out of traffic around 2 a.m. Sunday at Broad and 10th streets. He appeared highly intoxicated, a report states.

The officer found the man with a cardboard sign that read, "Jokes $0.25".

Mr. Yazelle was arrested but fought with the officer. Once the deputy got the suspect in the patrol car, the man "started to bang his head on the rear driver side window, causing it to bow out and separate from the door itself," a report states.

The damage to the patrol car led the deputy to charge Mr. Yazelle with interference with government property.

And that's no joke.

Drunk Driving - Again

A Martinez woman was busted for driving under the influence for the second time in 10 months.

Heather Kocher, 29, was arrested by the S.C. Highway Patrol early this morning while driving on Aiken County roadways. The patrolman charged her with DUI - 2nd, driving under suspension - 2nd, habitual offender and possession of controlled substance - Xanax.

The Columbia County woman's been busted several times in Aiken County, including for DUI, shoplifting and public drunkenness.

We wonder what her record looks like in the county where she officially resides?

Repeat Offender - Jack Shuttleworth

Jack Shuttleworth, 44, of Belvedere, was charged Friday night with criminal domestic violence and driving under suspension more than first.

He's very familiar with the Aiken County Jail with multiple previous arrests for shoplifting (at least four), driving under suspension (at least three) and assault and battery (at least three).

Jack also has a problem with closing his mouth during his mugshots (at least two).

Columbia County Schools: Zero Tolerance or Zero Common Sense?

Martha Hall hardly ever carries a purse to school.

But the junior at Grovetown High School was cold last Tuesday, so she put her gloves on and grabbed an old purse to carry them in. The 18 year old girl was so unaccustomed to using the purse, she mistakenly left it in the cafeteria. When a school official found the abandoned purse, they opened it up to search for identification.

Inside, they found a small ice scraper. It had a small razor on it.

Martha was immediately reported to the sheriff's office and suspended indefinitely. Officers also searched her locker and car.

"They were like, 'It's policy.' I'll probably end up in alternative school," Martha told The Jail Report. "It's definitely a mistake, but the action taken is over-reacting."

Luckily, the sheriff's office saw it for what it was -- a mistake -- and didn't charge her. A sheriff's report states, "Investigation found Ms. Hall had no criminal intent on using the scraper's razor."

The Columbia County school system saw it as a by-the-book violation of their weapons policy.

Martha says she's had the scraper in her old purse since August, when she used it to scrape glue off her windshield. She was replacing a rear-view window in her car and there was glue left on the windshield from the old one. She left it in the purse that she rarely uses. The scraper was only about an inch and a half long, she said.

The Grovetown teen explained that to school officials. They didn't care. She was escorted off school property soon after the discovery.

Martha makes As and Bs in school. She is determined to finish school despite this incident, and will have to wait for a notice about her hearing date.

But the whole incident has left Martha a bit shaken by the system.

"It's extreme over-reacting. I didn't threaten anyone with it," Martha said. "I didn't even know I had it!"

What do you think? Was the school system correct in taking the action they did?

35-Year-old Murder Solved with 2 Arrests

You heard it here first:

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two men and charged them with the Feb. 3, 1975 murder of a man on Meadowbrook Drive in Richmond County.

Bronzi Leon Peppers (25 at the time of his death) was found shot once in the head in his front yard on 2921 Meadowbrook Drive.

In August 2009, sheriff's investigators received a letter from a person claiming to have information in an unsolved murder that occurred in the early to mid 1970s. Investigators interviewed the person, who had some first hand information, but was unable to provide exact dates, locations or times. The individual was able to provide some details, to include how the murder occurred and who the suspects were.

Investigators were unable to find any file or report about the murder in the files of the Sheriff’s Office. A flood in the old courthouse, where the criminal investigative division used to be located, had completely destroyed many files from that era, and it is suspected that any file concerning the investigation of this case was also destroyed. Details were not specific enough for investigators to find coroner’s reports or news articles.

As investigators made efforts to verify the validity of the information, one of the suspect in the case was located and interviewed and made a subsequent admission to his involvement in the case. The suspect was able to provide greater detail, and two days after his admission, Richmond County Coroner Grover Tuten was able to locate a Coroner’s Report concerning the murder.

That report provided details and leads that allowed investigators to confirm that this was indeed the murder in question. Since that time, many witnesses have been interviewed and a great deal of evidence gathered.

This morning, the police in Marietta, Okla., arrested 58 year old William “Butch” Lawrence Coffey III (bottom mug) on a Richmond County murder warrant for his involvement in this case. The extradition process will now begin and it is not yet known if Mr. Coffey will fight extradition.

At 12:30 pm today, Richmond County investigators arrested 53 year old Mark Anthony Hill (top mug) at his residence on Roberson Road in Augusta. Mr. Hill has been committed to the Richmond County Jail on one count of murder.

Another suspect, Tony Ray Ouzts, died in a car accident in Columbia County in the early 1990s. He would be 69 today, had he survived.

There are two other potential suspects linked to the case, however their identities are being withheld at this time. Other arrests are possible, authorities said.

According to Lt. Scott Peebles, the investigation into the case revealed the following information regarding the case:

"Tony Ouzts was believed to be a drug dealer during the time period of this case. The victim, Bronzi Leon Peppers, stole a large quantity of drugs from Mr. Ouzts. Mr. Ouzts and four other conspirators then devised a plan to kidnap the victim and hold him for ransom until the stolen drugs were returned. On the night of the incident, the group of five suspects went to the victim’s residence, and caught him in the front yard. The suspects began a struggle with the victim, which forced the victim to the ground. At some point during the struggle, Ouzts shot Peppers one time in the head. The suspects fled the scene, and until now have gone about living their lives."

Lt. Peebles said this case is significant on many levels, including:

1. This is the first case investigated by the newly formed “Cold Case” Division of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

2. The sheriff's office hopes the arrests will send a message to anyone who’s ever participated in a homicide and thought they got away with it, that no longer how long ago, there is a very real likelihood that they will someday be brought to justice.

3. For the loved ones of the victims of unsolved cases, the sheriff's office hopes that this reassures them that someday their loved ones case will be solved and the suspect will be brought to justice.

4. Finally, there were a large handful of people in this case who had information, which could have brought the case to a closure long ago. For those who have information in other unsolved case, we hope that this will give them the courage to come forward with the information that they have and help bring closure to the families of murder victims.

Murder Suspect Back in Aiken from California

A murder suspect captured last week in California is back home and being held in the Aiken County Detention Center.

Maurice Lamont Council, 20, was booked back into the Aiken County jail today, according to jail records. The Aiken County Sheriff's Office hired a transport service to fly the suspect back to the South Carolina.

He was on the county's Most Wanted list for months, sought for the August 2009 shooting death of 16-year-old James Collin on T & S Drive. Mr. Council is charged with murder, assault and battery with intent to kill and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime.

Details of his capture: Officers in Hesperia, Calif., responded to a call at a local hotel and found Mr. Council. According to news reports, he was busted after the jealous husband of Mr. Council's alleged lover caught the two at a Motel 6 in San Bernardino County and notified authorities.

That's his newest mugshot above, which was taken today.

Weapon at School

Aiken County authorities have charged a 17 year old with bringing a weapon to school.

Benjamin Brock, 17, of Beech Island, was arrested Thursday afternoon on a charge of carrying weapons on school property. Full details were not immediately available.

Why Do Young People Run from Police?

Why do young people run from police? They only get in more trouble!

Ask 17-year-old Isiah Manor. A deputy tried to pull the Augusta teen over for not wearing his seatbelt, and ended up in a chase with the teen that resulted in this long list of charges:

• DUI
• fleeing or eluding police
• reckless driving
• contributing to delinquency of minor
• obstruction of law enforcement
• failure to yield
• no seatbelt
• violation of instructional permit

According to incident reports, the fun started around 3:47 p.m. Wednesday when Deputy Kadum Townsend tried to stop Isiah in a 1998 Ford Explorer on McCauley Street near Poplar Street. The teen did not stop, but sped up, causing a brief chase that ended on Dewitt Street after the 17 year old ran a stop sign and struck a van.

Isiah then "exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot north on Douglas Street," but the suspect was captured nearby and smacked with a load of charges.

Oddly enough, the driver of the other vehicle that was hit -- identified as 30-year-old Michael Lyons -- also fled the accident scene even though he wasn't at fault. Turns out Mr. Lyons was driving without a license and no insurance. He was charged with those two offenses as well as leaving the scene of an accident. In his witness statement, Mr. Lyons says: "I was scared and I know that I shouldn't have been driving and I lied to the officers, and I apologize."

Disorderly Hair

Johnny Sherlock, 45, was busted in Richmond County on Wednesday for disorderly conduct.

He doesn't look so thrilled to be there.

Happy Hit & Run

Margaret Dunbar looks pretty happy with herself.

We're not sure why.

According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the 61-year-old Aiken lady was drunk driving Wednesday night when she committed a hit and run. We would be pretty upset with ourselves if that happened to us.

Patrol officials booked Margaret on charges of DUI, hit & run, an an ABC violation. Typically, an ABC violation is when someone is carrying around a liquor bottle or open container in their vehicle.

Maybe that explains why Margaret looks so happy.