Police blotter

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

Man arrested in theft

A Martinez man was arrested Tuesday after, authorities said, he tried to steal a patio umbrella from a Martinez restaurant.

Carl Eugene Morton III, 22, of the 3900 block of Desoto Drive, was arrested on charges of theft by taking and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.

During a patrol watch in the Columbia Square parking lot, police saw Morton taking the umbrella from the Sidetrack Bar and Grill. Police say he ran toward Faith Worship Center, where he was found. Police say Morton resisted being arrested and struck a deputy in the face with his head.

Morton was taken to the Columbia County Detention Center at 1:50 p.m. Tuesday and released later that day on a $2,200 bond.

Man reports card fraud

An Augusta man reported financial card fraud to police Tuesday after someone made charges to his ATM card at several businesses in Columbia County.

He said that while he was in jail in Richmond County, someone took his ATM card without his permission and used it to get money and goods. The amount charged was $283.85.

Property damaged

Three criminal trespass incidents were reported to police Tuesday after someone caused $1,900 in damages to county property in Evans.

An official for Columbia County's Community and Leisure Services department told police someone damaged property at the Evans Government Complex at 630 Ronald Reagan Drive.

The county official said someone pushed over a wooden split-rail fence, left tire marks on a wooden walkway after riding their motorcycle on it and spray-painted graffiti across a wooden, privacy fence.