Suspects arrested in Washington Road burglary

Three Augusta men considered suspects in several Washington Road burglaries were in jail Monday morning after they were caught breaking into a Martinez restaurant.

Columbia County authorities responded to a silent alarm at Zaxby's, located at 3909 Washington Road, at about 2 a.m. Thursday. Police found Demetrius Lamar Simmons, 35, Duvall Carles Simmons, 34, who is not related to Demetrius Simmons; and Brian Demeaith Tate, 29, at the restaurant's back door with a crow bar, Columbia County Sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said.

Morris said the three had already cut the building's phone lines, busted the deadbolt lock on the back door and were about to enter the business when police arrived.

Demetrius Simmons, of the 1000 block of Riverbridge Drive, has an extensive history of burglaries and was on parole after being released from prison a year ago, Morris said.

He is being held at the Columbia County Detention Center without bond on charges of criminal attempt at burglary, possession of tools to commit burglary and giving false statements because he lied about his name and other personal information, Morris said.

Duvall Simmons, of the 2500 block of Frier Lane, and Tate, of the 4000 block of Harper Franklin Avenue, were charged with criminal attempt at burglary and possession of tools for the commission of a crime in the Zaxby's incident, Morris said.

The two also are being charged with burglary after confessing to a February burglary at the McDonald's at 4262 Washington Road in Evans, where one of the men worked, Morris said.

Carles Simmons and Tate are each being held on a $22,800 bond, according to jail personnel.

Morris said all three men are suspects in other burglaries with similar circumstances along Washington Road.