Police blotter

Officers reinstated

Four Columbia County sheriff's officers have been reinstated to their regular duties after being placed on administrative leave with pay after the Aug. 30 fatal shooting of a Martinez woman.

On Wednesday, Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said the officers returned to work last week after the sheriff's office's internal affairs division conducted an administrative review and criminal investigation, deeming the officers followed correct policy and procedure when they returned fire at Kimberly Weathers, who police say walked onto the front of her New Petersburg Apartments residence and aimed a gun at authorities.

Morris said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent investigation and its findings will be reviewed by the district attorney's office.

Morris said it was Columbia County Sheriff Clay Whittle's opinion that "the officers acted in accordance with policy and procedure.'' The officers were placed on administrative leave Aug. 31.

Police said the 44-year-old woman was threatening suicide before calling 911 for assistance. She died from a single gunshot to the chest and another bullet grazed her right arm, the Columbia County Coroner's Office stated.

Student arrested

A 14-year-old Columbia Middle School pupil damaged school property and threatened two school officials with a bat, authorities said.

The boy, whose name wasn't released because of his age, was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threat on a school official, conveying a false alarm and interference with government property, said Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris.

Morris said the pupil pulled a fire alarm, then broke open a case containing a bat, damaged some fire alarms, pulled wires to security cameras and swung the bat at the school's assistant principal and a security officer. No one was injured, and the pupil was taken to the Regional Youth Detention Center.

Man pleads guilty

A Martinez man who pleaded guilty to felony child molestation charges in Columbia County Superior Court last week was sentenced to six years in prison and nine years of probation Wednesday.

Jerry Willis Denny, 68, of the 400 block of Pleasant Home Road, pleaded guilty to four counts of child molestation Monday.

The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office:

Forgery, shoplifting arrest

An Augusta man was arrested on two separate incidents at the Evans Wal-Mart on Tuesday involving a forged check and items police say he shoplifted.

Jamie Chambers, of the 1000 block of Green St., was charged with forgery in the first degree and theft by shoplifting, according to the sheriff's office records department.

Deputy Jim McDonald Jr. said he found Chambers with a Social Security card, South Carolina driver's license and a check that belonged to a Beech Island woman who had reported the items stolen from her vehicle Sept. 10. Police say Chambers also was caught Tuesday taking items from the store without paying for them.

Theft-by- taking arrest

An Augusta man has been arrested after a Martinez business manager told police Sept. 10 that several items had been taken from his business and pawned.

Michael Chad Gribanow, of the 1000 block of Horseshoe Road, was charged with two counts of theft by taking, according to a Columbia County Sheriff's Office report.

The department manager of Kelly Paint and Body, on Washington Road, said he noticed an electrical polisher was missing from the business. The manager said a co-worker reported seeing Gribanow at the CrackShot Pawnshop, 3739 Washington Road, the reports states. When the manger went to the pawnshop, he said he was told the polisher had been pawned by Gribanow on Sept. 2. Police said Gribanow also had pawned items to other people.