Police Blotter
Report says heart, not heat, killed student
An enlarged heart, not August heat, probably killed a Lakeside High School student who collapsed after a physical education class, authorities said Friday.
Columbia County Deputy Coroner Vernon Collins said a final report on the death of Chelsea Collins, 14, determined her death Aug. 22 was caused by the heart condition, which he said "was a gradual effect" that can either be genetics- or viral-based.
At the time of Chelsea's death, officials said, the heat index in the area of Lakeside High School was about 102 degrees. Chelsea died after falling ill while walking around a track during a physical education class.
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office:
Firefighter reports theft from tool box
A Martinez-Columbia firefighter discovered thousands of dollars in tools stolen from an unsecured tool box on the back of his pickup Nov. 21.
The firefighter told police his white 1995 Chevrolet pickup was parked inside the locked and gated portion of Martinez Self-Storage at 109 Old Evans Road in Martinez between Nov. 18 and Monday morning.
Missing from the tool box were $6,000 in miscellaneous tools.
Hephzibah man faces obstruction charges
A 20-year-old Hephzibah man was arrested early Tuesday on charges of obstruction and giving false information to Columbia County law enforcement officials after police said he resisted arrest and lied about his identity.
Maverick Octavious Lewis, of the 1000 block of Hancock Mill Lane, was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for having a broken headlight at 2:23 a.m. Tuesday.
Neither Lewis nor the driver of the vehicle had identification, and deputies stated in the report that Lewis gave inconsistent information about his age and identified himself as a different person when questioned.
Lewis became agitated and when deputies tried to handcuff him, Lewis tried to run.
Lewis was taken to the ground by two deputies and ceased struggling.
Man says acquaintance threw bricks at him
A Harlem man told police Nov. 22 that someone threw bricks at him.
The 19-year-old said that he was walking along the 4000 block of Gordon Highway at 3:15 p.m. Nov. 22, when a man he knew drove by him before stopping and getting out of his pickup.
He said the man threw two bricks at him before driving away. The first brick struck his lower back, and the second hit his left hand, the report states.
Martinez Fire Department activity report for the week of Nov. 20-26:
Structure fires, six; grass fire, one; vehicle fires, three; controlled burns, four; fire alarms, five; carbon monoxide, one; medical calls, 15; rescue calls, 18; investigations, six; and other, four.