Police blotter
Inmate's escape fromhospital dismays police
Columbia County police said Wednesday that they are upset and baffled over how a high-risk prisoner was able to escape Tuesday from East Central Regional Hospital at Augusta, formerly known as Georgia Regional Hospital.
Columbia County sheriff's Maj. John Wheeler, of detention and court services, said the escape occurred after he warned a doctor at Medical College of Georgia Hospital and one at East Central Regional that the prisoner, Bruce Edward Morgan, 32, of Clermont, Ga., had cut himself on the arm at the Columbia County Detention Center on Monday so he would be taken to East Central Regional so he could attempt to escape.
Wheeler said authorities suspect Morgan escaped through a ceiling in a bathroom and had been missing for as long as an hour before hospital officials knew he was gone. Wheeler said Morgan was found by East Central Regional security at one point but that he was able to escape again. He was located about two hours after his escape, during which, police say, he burglarized a Richmond County home near East Central Regional.
Morgan was arrested by Columbia County authorities June 18 at the Martinez Goodwill on Washington Road. Police said they found him rummaging through an outdoor bin after hours. They said Morgan was in possession of a stolen vehicle, in which authorities said they found methamphetamine. Morgan also was wanted in Pasco County, Fla., on charges including felony assault on an officer, interference with a police dog, motor vehicle theft and possession of marijuana.
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office:
Golf course damage discovered
A Jones Creek Golf Club superintendent reported a case of criminal trespass to police Monday after he said he noticed damage to the golf course.
The man, who works at the golf club at 777 Jones Creek Drive in Evans, said someone used a golf cart to damage the fairway on holes No. 7 and 10 and to the tee box on hole No. 14, a sheriff's office report states.
The damage was estimated at $400. The incident reportedly occurred between 8 a.m. June 26 and 7 a.m. Monday.
Woman reports theft from car
An Evans woman told police Monday that someone took a Carrabba's Italian Grill gift certificate from her vehicle.
The woman, who took her vehicle to Top Notch Car Wash at 512 N. Belair Road in Evans, said she noticed the gift certificate was missing after having her vehicle serviced, a sheriff's office report states.
The woman said the manger searched the business's employees and other areas but found nothing.
The gift card was valued at $25.
Sterling flatware is stolen from home
More than $700 of sterling silver flatware was reported stolen from an Evans woman's home Monday.
The woman, 97, who lives in the 4000 block of Owens Road, said someone entered her apartment and took her Tiffany and Co. silverware, a Columbia County Sheriff's Office report states.
Authorities said there were no signs of forced entry.
The incident reportedly occurred between 9 a.m. June 7 and 5 p.m. June 16.