K-9 Sniffs Out Coke Machine Vandals

Two men were caught early Friday trying to break into a Coke machine in Columbia County, but they led authorities on a chase that ended with a K-9 unit sniffing them out of a wooded area.

Daniel Blalock, 25 (top), and David Ragland, 25 (bottom), were arrested Friday and charged with criminal damage to property and obstruction of an officer.

A Columbia County deputy was on patrol at 2:15 am Friday in Martinez when he spotted someone trying to break into a Coke machine outside a business at 213 Hightower Drive. The suspect saw the officer and fled behind Sign-O-Rama on Washington Road into a thick wooded area, a report states.

The officer called out a police K-9 unit, and the suspects were captured, a report states. The men remain in jail today.

Bizarre Fire Death in Wagener

A fire in Wagener on Saturday appears to be a cover-up for a homicide, according to Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton.

When fire departments responded to a fire at a mobile home on 226 Buckboard Road in Wagener, they discovered the body of 57-year-old George Griffin, who lived at the home.

"Mr. Griffin was taken to autopsy this morning, where it was learned that Mr. Griffin died prior to the actual fire," Mr. Carlton said in a press release. "Mr. Griffin had several suspicious injuries that were discovered by pathologists in Newberry, SC. Even though the body was seriously burned, Mr. Griffin was positively identified."

The fire happened around 7:30 pm on Saturday. This death is being investigated by the Aiken County Sheriff's Office and the Aiken County Coroner's Office.

"Further information will be released when appropriate," Mr. Carlton said.

North Augusta Man Charged with Sex Crimes

A young man with repeated run-ins with the law was charged Friday with two sex crimes.

Robert Creighton III, 20, of North Augusta, was arrested Friday morning for committing a lewd act on a minor under 16 as well as criminal sexual conduct in the second-degree. He remains in the Aiken County Detention Center this morning.

Mr. Creighton is no stranger to the jail. He's been busted numerous times over his early life. His previous charges include reckless driving, forgery, shoplifting, minor in possession of alcohol, driving under suspension and drugs - prohibited acts.

His most recent arrest was made by the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.

Repeat Offender Has Tattoos on Eyelids

Marcus Gregory got tattoos inked on his neck and eyelids sometime in the last two years.

How do we know?

He's a repeat offender with at least nine previous arrests in Aiken County, allowing us to track the progression of his tattoos through his mugshots. (He got the teardrop tattoo sometime between 2005 and 2007.)

Mr. Gregory, 25, of Bath, was busted Thursday for burglary in the second degree. His new tattoo (top photo) shows his new neck tattoo and a hint of tattoos or magic marker on his eyelids.

His previous arrests include grand larceny, probation violation, assault & battery, false information to law enforcement, malicious injury to real property, resisting arrest, marijuana possession, and multiple counts of disorderly conduct.

Shoplifting Mugshot

The Augusta Chronicle is reporting this morning on a bizarre shoplifting case, and we've got the mugshot.

Quantavous Terrence Hawthorn, 21, of Augusta, is accused of stealing five bras and other items Wednesday from Walmart in North Augusta and then leading police on a chase through Chick-fil-A.

According to The Chronicle, the shoplifting suspect ran through the Walmart parking lot and into the restaurant, where he allegedly slung table benches to slow down officers. He was eventually captured and booked on charges of shoplifting, resisting arrest, giving false information, and malicious injury to real property, according to jail records.

The Counterfeiters?

Two men are being held in the Richmond County jail after passing fake $20 bills Wednesday night at Coyotes nightclub on Peach Orchard Road, authorities said.

Jamaal Thompkins, 26 (top), and Steven Lampkin, 27 (bottom), were arrested early today after a bartender told an on-duty deputy that one of the men was acting suspiciously by continuing to pay for drinks with $20s instead of using the change she had given him earlier. The suspects were later found with about $600 in fake bills.

According to jail records, Mr. Thompkins was charged with five counts of forgery in the second-degree while Mr. Lampkin was charged with one count. They remain in jail tonight.

The sheriff's office alerted the U.S. Secret Service to the case since the federfal agency is responsible for counterfeiting offenses.

Aiken County Burglars

Two men have been charged in unrelated burglaries in Aiken County.

Justin Lee Turner, 19, of Warrenville (top), was arrested Tuesday for burglary. He's a repeat offender with previous charges of burglary, grand larceny and drugs.

Terrell Lockett, 27, of Ridge Spring (bottom), was busted Wednesday for burglary, criminal domestic violence, was charged with burglary, criminal domestic violence of a high & aggravated nature and malicious injury to personal property. He's also a repeat offender with previous charges for criminal domestic violence (two previous arrests), and driving under suspension.