Police Blotter
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.
Woman reports identity theft
An Appling woman told police March 30 that someone had used her personal information to get a fake driver's license.
The woman said she realized her information had been used after she was pulled over by police in Richmond County. They told her that her vehicle had an invalid tag and that her driver's license had been suspended because she didn't appear in court on two traffic citations in McCormick County, a sheriff's office report states.
The woman said that she had never received a citation in McCormick County and that someone had apparently used her information when they were issued the citations. Police later discovered that someone had tried to use the woman's Social Security number.
Railroad cross arms found dismantled
A Columbia County sheriff's deputy discovered the cross arms for a Martinez railroad crossing had been dismantled and damaged early Sunday morning.
Deputy Johnny McDonald Jr. was called to investigate a nonfunctional railroad crossing on Hightower Drive at about 1 a.m. He said he found both crossing arms damaged and laying on the ground, according to a sheriff's office incident report.
Representatives of CSX Signals were notified to send someone to repair the arms immediately. Columbia County's Road and Bridges department set up portable stop signs until the arms were repaired.
Volunteer reports dogs euthanized improperly
A volunteer for a Martinez pet rescue organization told police two dogs in a temporary foster home were euthanized without permission.
The volunteer, from Happy Tails Rescue on Salem Way, told police a 3-year-old Labrador retriever-Basset hound mix and 2-year-old husky mix were placed in a foster home about nine months ago. The group's veterinarian called the volunteer and said the two dogs' foster owners were going to have the dogs euthanized, according to a sheriff's office incident report.
The volunteer went to the foster home March 30 to get the dogs back, but the foster owners refused to return them, the report stated. Magistrate Judge Chris Leopard called the foster parents, who said the dogs were euthanized March 29. Judge Leopard declined to issue a warrant in the case, the report stated.
Martinez-Columbia Fire and Rescue Activity Report for the week of March 27-April 2:
Structure fires, five; woods fire, one; vehicle fires, three; fire alarms, seven; natural gas leaks, two; carbon monoxide, two; medical calls, 19; rescue calls, nine; investigations, 10; and other, four.