Police blotter
Rape charges
A 19-year-old Lakeside High School graduate who was a 2003 state wrestling champion is being investigated on a charge of rape at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Justin Otis, who lived in Martinez during high school, is a freshman on the UTC wrestling team, university spokesman Chuck Cantrell said. He was arrested at about 5 a.m. Nov. 28 after a woman told campus police she went to a dorm room with him, had a drink and blacked out, a campus police report says. The woman told police that when she woke up, she was naked and Otis was having sex with her.
He was released on bond from jail the next day and has been suspended for five wrestling matches, Cantrell said.
Aside from the judicial process, Otis will face a student conduct hearing in which he could be kicked off the wrestling team and expelled, Mr. Cantrell said.
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office:
Home burglary
An Evans woman said more than $900 in merchandise was taken from her home Monday.
The woman, who lives in the 1000 block of Sam Baston Road, said she noticed her training nail gun, 27-inch RCA television and stereo receiver were missing from her home.
She said someone apparently entered her home by unlocking her sliding glass door. The incident occurred between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Criminal trespass
A Martinez man said he found a stranger in his house early Monday morning after he heard a noise downstairs.
The man, who lives in the 4000 block of Knollcrest Circle, said he held the stranger at gunpoint; however, the stranger ran out of the home as the man searched for another intruder, a police report states. Authorities said they were unable to find the stranger. The incident reportedly occurred at 6:30 a.m.
School vandalism
Police discovered vandalism to several benches at Harlem High School on Monday.
A Columbia County sheriff's deputy said he noticed an unsecured classroom and five damaged concrete benches outside the school, which had obscene language written on them with blue and black markers.
The vandalism was discovered while the deputy was patrolling the school at about 11:30 p.m.
Peeping Tom report
A Grovetown woman told police Tuesday someone watched her through her bedroom window as she was getting dressed.
The woman, who lives in the 4000 block of Clifden Avenue, said that when she screamed, the unknown man ran away.
Authorities were unable to locate the man, according to the police report.
Martinez Fire Department Activity Report for the week of Nov. 28-Dec. 4:
Structure fire, one; vehicle fire, one; controlled burns, two; fire alarms, three; medical calls, 24; rescue calls, 10; and investigations, five.
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Police Blottern