Police Blotter
Fired deputy reinstated, resigns
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A Columbia County sheriff's deputy jailer arrested and fired in March on allegations of excessive force has been cleared after an internal affairs investigation, authorities announced Monday.
Michael John Thompson, 36, of Evans, was found not guilty on May 1 and will not face criminal charges, according to a news release.
On Feb. 27, Thompson was placed on administrative leave with pay pending the completion of an investigation into an alleged Feb. 18 incident of excessive force involving inmate Elijah Gardner, who later filed a grievance, police said.
On March 15, Thompson was arrested, charged with simple battery and fired, police said. At the time, Gardner was jailed on a forgery charge and did not sustain any physical injuries, sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said. Police did not describe the alleged excessive force in March nor were details disclosed in Monday's news release.
After being cleared of the charges against him, Thompson was reinstated to his position as sheriff's deputy for the period of March 15 through May 1, but he declined, according to the news release. Thompson formally resigned May 1.
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office:
Woman arrested on shoplifting
Columbia County sheriff's deputies arrested an Augusta woman July 1 on a charge of shoplifting involving an Evans department store.
LaToya Denise Harrison, 21, of the 200 block of East Telfair Street, was released from the Columbia County Detention Center after posting $1,100 bond.
The loss prevention manager of Kohl's at Mullins Crossing told deputies that after checking out, Harrison placed six pairs of shorts and four shirts with a total value of $286 beneath a child and under a pile of clothes she had already purchased.
The manager told deputies he stopped Harrison after she exited the store without paying for the items.
Woman finds second abused cat
A Martinez resident told deputies June 30 that she found the second of two severely injured cats on her property in the past month.
The 42-year-old, who lives at the 200 block of Anneswood Road, told deputies she found a cat with its back legs and pelvis broken on June 1. A veterinarian told the woman the injuries appeared intentional, according to the report.
She found a second cat June 30 that had its tail cut off.
Woman, 90, robbed at gunpoint
A 90-year-old Appling woman told deputies on June 30 that two men robbed her at gunpoint inside her home.
The woman, who lives in the 6500 block of Washington Road, told deputies two men entered her home by force at about 5:30 p.m.
The men, described only as white males, grabbed the woman and forced her into a bedroom at gunpoint.
The men took two handbags and fled the scene.
Remains of animal found at pool
The swimming pool manager at an Evans country club told deputies July 2 that he found the remains of an unknown animal around the pool after patrons complained of a loud popping sound.
The manager of the Jones Creek Country Club pool told deputies that when he went to investigate complaints of a popping noise, he found the entrails of an unknown animal strewn about the pool deck and in the water.