Police blotter
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office:
Stolen property
A Grovetown man was released on bond Jan. 5 after being arrested on a charge of theft by receiving stolen property.
Mike Robert Thomas, 37, posted a $5,100 bond, according to a sheriff's incident report.
His arrest occurred after police received information that a stolen backhoe had been stored on property owned by Thomas at the 5000 block of Autumn Trail, said sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris. An officer spoke with Thomas, who allowed him to check the vehicle identification number on the backhoe. Police confirmed the backhoe had been reported stolen in 2001 from a construction site in Aiken County, the report states.
The backhoe was then impounded at the sheriff's office and an investigation began, resulting in Thomas' arrest.
Shoplifting arrests
A Lexington, S.C., man was arrested Jan. 15 after he tried to steal a computer from an Evans department store, fleeing from authorities and then hiding in a line of trees, authorities said.
Darwin Jason Ciesielski, 34, of the 100 block of Third Avenue, was charged with shoplifting and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Police say he tried to steal a computer from the Wal-Mart in Evans and then attempted to flee, running across Washington Road to hide among the trees.
Police say the man then disobeyed a police command and was sprayed with pepper spray. After the suspect was treated by Emergency Medical Services, he was taken to the Columbia County Detention Center, where he was being held Friday morning on a $4,100 bond.
An incident involving an Evans woman also occurred at the Evans Wal-Mart on Jan. 15 when, police say, she tried to steal $22 in jewelry.
Stephanie LaStar Nasworthy, 19, of the 400 block of Fiske Loop, was charged with shoplifting after she tried to steal two watches and several items of jewelry from a display case, police said. The woman took some of the items and placed them in the women's restroom and the remaining items in her purse. She then exited the store's grocery door without paying for the items, the report states.
Nasworthy was taken to the Columbia County Detention Center and released on a $2,200 bond.
Arson arrest
A North Augusta man was arrested on a charge of first-degree arson Jan. 15 after an Evans man said he saw the man leaving an Evans residence, which had smoke coming from its roof.
Raymond Abney, 35, of Lighthouse Lane, also was arrested on a charge of public drunkenness after, police say, he was found by authorities at the Evans Wal-Mart and was taken back to where the fire had occurred in the 600 block of Chimney Hill Circle.
After smelling a strong odor of alcohol, police say, they tested for his blood-alcohol level, which was 0.22. Abney was taken to the Columbia County Detention Center, where he was being held Friday morning on a $25,375 bond.