Police Blotter
Woman is charged in wreck that killed son
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A Thomson woman was charged Friday with misdemeanor vehicular homicide in a July 28 single-car wreck that killed her 4-year-old son.
Trista Danielle Jordan, 20, surrendered at the Columbia County Detention Center at 10 p.m. and was also charged with several traffic violations, according to jail records. She was released at about 4 a.m. Saturday on $9,500 bond, the records state.
Jordan was driving a 1991 Toyota Camry west on East White Oak Road near County Line Road when the vehicle left the road and flipped. Her son Jer'von was ejected and crushed, sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said.
He was not in a car seat or wearing a seat belt, Columbia County Deputy Coroner Vernon Collins said.
Jordan also was charged with driving with a suspended license, driving too fast for conditions, having defective equipment, and a safety belt violation, according to jail records.
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office:
Martinez man finds men burglarizing his home
A Martinez man said he found three men burglarizing his home Aug. 2.
The 21-year-old resident said three men forced themselves through the back door of his house at about 11:45 a.m. He grabbed a baseball bat and ran downstairs.
He said he was forced to put the bat down at gunpoint and the three men asked, "Where is the money and the safe? The man said he showed the three men his safe, from which they took four $2 bills.
The resident told police the three men fled through the front door.
Woman reports theft of her wallet to police
An Augusta woman said Friday that a woman she met at Wal-Mart might have stolen her wallet.
The 24-year-old told police that just after 9 a.m. Friday, she met a woman at the Wal-Mart at 260 Bobby Jones Expressway. The stranger asked her to help select clothing.
The Augusta woman said she laid her purse on a clothing rack and noticed it missing later when she tried to pay for merchandise.
The woman said her wallet contained Social Security cards for herself and her children, her driver's license, a medical insurance card and $519. A tape from the store's video surveillance system was taken as evidence.
Woman's mailbox explodes, catches fire
A Martinez woman said someone exploded her mailbox Thursday.
She said she heard a loud noise at about 1:30 a.m. and discovered her mailbox on fire.
Her neighbor told police she was awakened by a bright flash and a loud noise, but saw no people or cars.
Theft of lawn ornaments reported at Evans home
An Evans woman told police Saturday that someone stole lawn ornaments from her yard.
The 59-year-old said that between July 31 and Saturday, someone stole a $10 white ceramic rabbit figurine, a $25 white swan planter with a fern in it, an $8 pink plastic flamingo and $50 worth of fresh okra.
Martinez-Columbia Fire and Rescue Activity Report for the week of July 30-Aug. 5:
Structure fires, four; woods fire, one; grass fire, one; vehicle fires, four; controlled burns, one; fire alarms, six; hazardous materials, one; medical calls, 16; rescue calls, 14; investigations, two; public service, one; public safety assistance, one; and other, four.
As published 30 years ago in the pages of The Columbia News and The Martinez-Evans Times, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 1976: