Police Blotter

Fire damages Martinez home

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No one was injured in a house fire that heavily damaged a Martinez home Thursday.

Firefighters from Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue were called just after 8 p.m. Thursday to Brook Drive and found the home's garage in flames. The fire was quickly extinguished, but a 2002 Ford Expedition in the garage was destroyed, said Honey Shore, the fire department's spokeswoman.

The homeowners, William and Donna Redd, and their son, 11-year-old Richard, escaped without injury. Richard's pet guinea pig, Reeses, also survived the blaze and was later found by firefighters.

The garage was heavily damaged by fire, but the home received only smoke damage.

Shore said the fire department has contacted the state Fire Marshall's Office to request an investigator because the likely origin of the fire is the SUV. As of Monday morning, the fire department had not been contacted by the state office, Shore said.

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

Business sign is altered

The principal of a private school in Martinez called police Thursday to report that someone had stolen some letters and numbers from a sign outside a nearby business and rearranged the remaining letters.

The principal of Augusta Christian Schools told police that in the late afternoon of June 27, someone stole several black and clear plastic letters and numbers from a sign outside Appletree Academy at 458 Furys Ferry Road in Martinez, according to a sheriff's office incident report. The principal said certain letters were rearranged to read "we molest children," the report states.

The principal, who said teens have been seen around the property, is not sure who is responsible for the missing and rearranged letters. The sign is owned by Appletree Academy, but the letters belong to Augusta Christian Schools.

Break-ins reported of Martinez cars

Three Martinez residents told police someone broke into their car on Thursday.

The residents, who all live on Parnell Way, reported damage to their vehicle, and in one case more than $1,100 in stereo equipment and speakers were stolen.

One of the victims told police he might have spotted those responsible as he was taking his trash out at about 1:30 a.m. He told police he saw a car speed away from his driveway toward the neighborhood entrance on South Old Belair Road.

When he returned outside about 7 a.m., he discovered that someone had entered his unlocked pickup and broken the steering column in an effort to steal the truck.

Martinez-Columbia Fire and Rescue Activity Report for the week of June 25-July 1:

Structure fires, five; grass fires, one; controlled burn, one; fire alarms, six; natural gase leak, one; medical calls, 16; rescue calls, six; investigations, two; public safety assistance, five.