Police blotter
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.
Restaurant robberies
Police arrested two men and a juvenile Tuesday in connection with the armed robbery and attempted armed robbery of two Evans fast-food restaurants.
David Lawrence Turner II, 22, of the 700 block of Bennock Mill, Hephzibah; and Steven Anthony James, 27, of the 1900 block of Windsor Spring Road, Augusta; are still in jail. A 16-year-old boy that drove the getaway car, a 1983 Oldsmobile Cutlass, was taken to the Regional Youth Detention Center.
Donning masks and holding knives, Turner and James, entered the Taco Bell at 4284 Washington Road at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, demanding money, authorities said. Restaurant employees told police they thought the holdup was a joke, and the men left.
The suspects then drove to Arby's at 4350 Washington Road, entered and said, "This is not a joke. I want your money now," police said.
The men were found later at a Stevens Creek Road convenience store waiting for the teen, who had to use the bathroom.
Masks and money were recovered inside the car, police said.
Gunfire report
Authorities spent most of the pre-dawn hours Thursday outside a Grovetown man's house after he reportedly fired a gun during a domestic dispute with his wife.
Roy Thomas Lawson, 48, was drunk when he shot at least one round into the floor of his house on the 5000 block of Columbia Road shortly before 11 p.m. on Wednesday night, Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said.
His wife and two children, ages 11 and 14, called 911 and left the house. When police showed up, Lawson refused to cooperate, Morris said.
He said that after more than five hours, the sheriff's office's special-response team entered the home, and Lawson was taken into custody without incident.
As of Thursday afternoon, Lawson was being held at the Columbia County Detention Center and charges were pending.
Charges mount
A Grovetown man was arrested on seven different charges after a traffic stop early Tuesday morning.
Columbia County sheriff's Deputy Dennis F. Mack wrote in an incident report that he spotted a 1981 Chevy pickup traveling east on Harlem-Grovetown Road about 2:30 a.m. with a broken headlight and taillight. He stated that he said he also noted the brake lights were not working.
After checking the tag, Mack found out the truck had a stolen tag.
The driver, Marion Whitaker, 35, of the 400 block of Wilkins Road, was arrested for DUI, habitual violations, unlawful use of a license plate, operating an unregistered vehicle, no proof of insurance, operating an unsafe vehicle and theft by receiving stolen property.
He was released from the Columbia County Detention Center later that day on a property bond.
Sex offender
A convicted sex offender was arrested Wednesday for failing to re-register.
Jeffrey Jennings, 37, of the 400 block of White Road, Harlem, was required to re-register for the state's sex offender registry at the sheriff's office on June 14, 2003. Authorities said that he never showed, despite being sent a registered letter from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Jennings was charged with failing to register and for a probation violation. He had to register as a sex offender after being convicted for attempted rape, Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said.
Wanted man
Following up on a tip, deputies arrested a wanted man Monday in Grovetown.
Robert Lee Smith, of the 5000 block of Jaime Drive, Grovetown, was wanted for obstruction of a law enforcement officer and possession of marijuana. He also had warrants out for him in Richmond and Gwinnett counties.
After deputies knocked on the door of Smith's residence several times, Rhonda Kathlene Tucker, 24, answered. She told police that Smith wasn't there and that she had broken up with him before officers mentioned his name, according to a Columbia County Sheriff's Office report.
She agreed to have her house searched, and police found Smith hiding inside a laundry dryer.
Tucker also was arrested, for hindering the apprehension of a criminal.