Police blotter

Charges filed in wreck

A 16-year-old driver was charged July 27 with two counts of first-degree vehicular homicide resulting from a June 8 accident in which two teens were killed.

Brad Thornton, 17, and Keith Krogmann, 16, both of Martinez, were killed when the car they were in left William Few Parkway, hit a stand of trees and caught fire. The driver was Jennifer L. McElmurray, 16, of Evans.

According to a recently filed amendment to the original accident, blood tests showed McElmurray had no alcohol or drugs in her system at the time of the accident.

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McElmurray's case has been put on the juvenile court calendar, according to Capt. Steve Morris of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. He would not release any more information about the case.

Juvenile-court officials and the district attorney's office also would not comment.

According to the amended report, McElmurray was charged with two felony counts of first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, driving too fast for conditions and driving in violation of license restrictions. The latter charge was filed because new drivers are not allowed to transport passengers other than immediate family members for six months after receiving their license. McElmurray had received her driver's license just weeks before the accident.

A bond hearing was held in a Columbia County Juvenile Court on Wednesday.

Speed and weather conditions are believed to be contributing factors in the wreck. According to the report, McElmurray admitted she was driving too fast and attempted to slow down before entering the curve on William Few Parkway at Kiokee Creek Road.

Lakeside vandalized

Vandals recently damaged the concession stand and a referee's locker room at Lakeside High School's football field.

Athletic Director Randy Hill told deputies someone entered the visitor's concession stand at the football field July 25 by using a piece of wood to pry up the aluminum roll-up window. The vandals then trashed the contents of the stand.

Hill said the culprits also discharged a fire extinguisher in the referee's locker room. The damage is estimated at about $500, Hill said in an incident report.

The coach was unable to determine if anything was stolen at the time of the report.

Wrong change

An unidentified man stole from Gorin's restaurant at 4274 Washington Road in Evans and keeps returning.

Gorin's manager Ginelle Cohen Alger told officers that about 9 p.m. July 19, a man came into the restaurant to order a sandwich and was very irate. He then paid for his food with a $100 bill. When the clerk started counting his change back to him, the customer said he trusted her and took the money. A few minutes later, he returned and complained that the clerk had given him three $1 bills instead of three $20 bills in change. The clerk exchanged the ones for twenties and the man left.

At the close of business, Alger said the register was short $57.

Alger also said in an incident report that the man came back to the store on the following Thursday, looked around and then left. One night earlier last week, the same man drove up to the front of the store, but didn't get out of the car, she said.

Puppies abandoned

An Appling woman found four abandoned puppies in her driveway Monday.

Margaret Smith Fife of Smith-Crawford Road told deputies that someone put the puppies in her driveway and then left.

Columbia County Animal Care and Control was notified and the puppies were turned over to the on-duty animal control officer.

Pool-hall theft

A Martinez woman had $369 stolen out of her purse while at a local pool hall last week.

Diane Kell Findlay of Halifax Court told police that someone stole the money from her wallet in her purse at the Rack and Grill at 3481 Old Petersburg Road.

Findlay enlisted the help of an employee at the Rack and Grill, who showed her a videotape of the bar at the time of the theft. The video showed a man they recognized rifling through her purse, taking the money and putting it in his front pocket. The sheriff's office was notified.

Diner dilemma

The Waffle House at 4077 Belair Road in Grovetown reported a problem with a diner July 26.

Waffle House waitress Sidnie Michelle Sidle of Martinez told police that Richard Phillips came into the restaurant, ordered $7.72 worth of food then tried to leave without paying. On his way out, she said he took $2 off the table.

The report said Phillips was charged with theft by taking and theft of services, and the $2 was recovered.