Drunken Joyride on Stolen Bike

The Augusta Chronicle is reporting this morning about a teen arrested for taking a drunken joyride down East Martintown Road in North Augusta on a stolen bicycle.

We have the teen's mugshot (above).

Matthew Ray Cooley, 19, of Augusta, was charged this morning with shoplifting, disorderly conduct public drunk, giving false information to police and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

The arrest was made by the North Augusta Department of Public Safety after an officer saw the teen riding the bike in the middle of the road and swerving about 2 a.m. today. The suspect had allegedly stolen the bicycle from Walmart, according to The Chronicle's story.

Closing In On 100th Mugshot

It should come as no surprise to anyone that 57-year-old Jimmie Johnson of Aiken was arrested last night for being grossly intoxicated and disorderly in the city limits of Aiken.

Jimmie's name is a regular in the jail bookings published in The Aiken Standard, and his mugshots have appeared in our paper multiple times since we began publishing last June. He is almost always charged with some form of gross intoxication, disorderly conduct or trespassing. He also has some previous arrests for purse snatching, littering, failure to comply with officer's order and resisting arrest.

That's his newest mugshot at the top, taken last night. But we thought it would be fun to count the number of mugshots now available on his booking page (available by clicking here), and it appears Mr. Johnson is closing in on #100.

We counted 97 mugshots since the Aiken County Detention Center began storing them online in 2002. We can't imagine how many arrests he had in the decades before that. His oldest mugshot is shown as the bottom mugshot. It was taken in July 2002.

We mention the word "fun." But really this is sad. What should society do about someone like this who can't control their drinking and continues to cost taxpayers thousands of dollars a year to jail them? Any ideas?

Toddler Drowns in Windsor

A 17 month old boy drowned today in an apparent accident at his grandmother's home in Windsor, and an investigation is underway surrounding the circumstances of his death, according to Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton.

According to witnesses, the child was outside in the yard with other children when he and a 7 year old went to get some food for some goats. The 7 year old returned, but the 17 month old went missing for about 15 minutes.

The grandmother along with other adults were also outside and began searching for the child. He was discovered in the gold fish pond, in about 16" of water. Aiken County EMS was summoned to the home and transported the child to Aiken Regional where the child was pronounced dead.

"The circumstances surrounding the child's death are being investigated however no foul play is suspected," Mr. Carlton said in a press release. "This appears to be a tragic accident and our prayers go out to this family."

Autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow in Newberry.

Drag Racing in Richmond County

Richmond County authorities arrested a man over the weekend for drag racing.

Johnny English, 34, was busted Saturday on a long list of charges that include laying drag, reckless driving, unlawful use of nitrous oxide in vehicle, driving with improper windshield and wipers and suspended vehicle registration.

In drag racing, nitrous oxide (often referred to as just "nitrous" or as NOS after the name of the brand Nitrous Oxide Systems) allows the engine to burn more fuel and air, resulting in a more powerful combustion. The gas itself is not flammable, but it delivers more oxygen than atmospheric air by breaking down at elevated temperatures.

According to Georgia law, "It shall be unlawful for any person on a public road to drive a passenger car, excluding a motor home, which supplies the motor vehicle's combustion engine with nitrous oxide unless the system supplying nitrous oxide is made inoperative by disconnecting the line feeding nitrous oxide to the engine or by removing the container or containers of nitrous oxide from the vehicle."

Drunk Drivers in Aiken County

At least four people were busted for drunk driving overnight in Aiken County:

Pamela Lynn Harley, 43, of Jackson (top), was arrested for at least the second time for drunk driving. She was stopped by the S.C. Highway Patrol and booked into the jail at 6:40 pm Friday on a charge of "DUI - second offense." She also has previous arrests for a fraudulent check and criminal domestic violence.

Tilford Larry Grubbs, 48, of Aiken (second mugshot from the top), was arrested for DUI after being stopped by the Aiken Department of Public Safety. He was booked into the jail at 10:40 p.m. Friday.

Robert Wayne Lowe, 41, of North Augusta (third mugshot), was arrested for DUI after being stopped by the S.C. Highway Patrol. He was booked into the jail at 4 a.m. this morning.

James Kevin Wright, 39, of Soperton (bottom), was arrested for DUI - second offense. He was stopped by the North Augusta Department of Public Safety and booked into the jail at 5 a.m. today.

Man Found Hiding in Bedroom Closet

An Augusta man was found hiding in a bedroom closet this week after fleeing from a deputy who was investigating minor traffic offenses, according to a sheriff's report.

Instead of stopping, 40-year-old Darrell Mincey allegedly led the officer on a wild chase back to his trailer, where the deputy found him hiding in the closet. The officer also marijuana in a residence occupied with young children.

Needless to say, the suspect went from minor traffic charges to a list of 11 charges that include reckless driving, fleeing police, leaving the scene of an accident, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and marijuana possession. In addition, the suspect's brilliant move led police to charge a woman in the house with lying to police and marijuna possession.

The incident began Monday night when Deputy James Ouzts put on his emergency lights and tried to stop Mr. Mincey along Dean's Bridge Road. The suspect did an immediate U-turn and drove his 1999 Ford Crown Victoria into Mars Mobile Home Park, where he "drove reckless and almost hit numerous vehicles cars as well as mobile homes before stopping at his residence," a report states.

The suspect then ran inside, abandoning the car with a 3-year-old boy unrestrained in the vehicle. The officer went inside and asked resident Alisa Parsons if any other adult was in the house. She said no, but the deputy found Mr. Mincey in the closet.

The officer also spotted marijuana in plain view on a table and a television stand "within arms reach" of two children, ages 2 and 3. Ms. Parsons was arrested on charges of obstruction, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and marijuana possession. The children were turned over to the custody of their aunt.

Mr. Mincey remains in jail today. Ms. Parsons has been released on bond.

Another Meth Bust in Richmond County

An Augusta man and woman were busted for methamphetamine after narcotics officers issued a search warrant on Wednesday.

Cynthia Albert, 49 (top), and Michael McKeever, 47 (bottom), were charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Narcotics investigators with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office used a search warrant at 919 Holden Street on Wednesday and found 1.3 grams of meth inside. The drug was packaged up like it was ready for sale, authorities said.

The two suspects reportedly lived at the home together, but their exact relationship was not clear, authorities said.