Police Blotter
Bicyclist struck by car dies
The victim of an Aug. 29 hit-and-run wreck died Friday from injuries he sustained in the incident, according to Columbia County Deputy Coroner Bonnie King.
Harendra K. Sinha, 63, of the 100 block of Springlakes Drive, died at Medical College of Georgia Hospital on Friday morning.
Police say that on Aug. 29, Richard Kyle Post, 25, of the 4200 block of Green Ivy Circle, drove a vehicle into Sinha, who was riding a bicycle, then continued to drive a mile with Sinha lodged in the car's windshield before abandoning him and the car behind an elementary school.
Post was charged with hit-and-run, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries, driving under the influence, reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the road, serious injury by vehicle and false report of a crime, Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said. The serious injury by vehicle charge could be upgraded to another charge such as vehicular homicide, Capt. Morris said.
Post was being held in the Columbia County Detention Center Monday without bond.
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.
Gas pump reported stolen
An employee at a Martinez gas station told police Sunday someone stole parts of a gas pump.
The employee of Circle K at 190 Baston Road in Martinez, told police between midnight and 1:15 a.m. on Sunday someone stole the hose and handle from one of the station's gas pumps.
Counterfeit bills used to pay for gas purchase
A cashier at the Sprint Foods Store in Martinez told police Friday that a woman paid for gas with a counterfeit $50 bill.
The cashier said a woman pumped $20 worth of gas into a burgundy Ford Contour just after 3 p.m. Friday. The woman walked inside, paid for the gas with a $50 bill and left with $30 change, according to a sheriff's office incident report. The bill was deemed to be counterfeit when the cashier performed a mark test on the bill.
The cashier told police she unsuccessfully attempted to stop the car from leaving, but did get the vehicle's tag number. When police ran the tag number, the tag was registered to a different make and model car than the Ford Contour, the report stated.
Cars vandalized in front of homes
Two Appling residents told police their cars were vandalized while parked at residences on Scotts Ferry Road last weekend.
One Appling man told police Saturday morning someone had caused $5,000 in damage to each of his two vehicles parked at a home on the 2700 block of Scotts Ferry Road , according to a sheriff's office incident report. The man said that between Friday night and Saturday morning, someone cut off the valve stems and punctured all four tires, scratched both sides and broke the windshield wipers from his 2002 Infiniti sport utility vehicle and his 2000 Jaguar, the report stated. One window of the Infiniti was broken out, and two side windows of the Jaguar were broken, the report stated.
An Appling woman, who lives in the 2700 block of Scotts Ferry Road, told police that between 1 and 8 a.m. Sunday, someone punctured the rear drivers tire of her 1974 Chevrolet El Camino and poured an unknown fuel and gravel all over the car's body, the report stated.
The woman's car, which sustained $1,000 in damage, was parked in front of her residence, the report stated.
Martinez Fire Department Activity Report for the week of Sept. 18-24:
Woods fire, one; grass fires, four; vehicle fire, one; controlled burns, two; fire alarms, nine; natural gas leak, one; medical calls, 12; and rescue calls, eight.