Police Blotter
Five teens arrested in Lakeside High vandalism
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Five Columbia County teens were arrested last weekend after police say vandalism was discovered at Lakeside High School Friday morning.
Michael Jeffery Pinaula, 17, of the 4600 block of Brittney Drive in Evans, was arrested Friday and charged with felony interference with government property, according to jail records. He was released Friday evening after posting a $2,600 bond, the records stated.
Lakeside High School officials called police Friday morning to report someone had spray-painted "EHS" in gold on the front of the school building as well as several areas of the building, according to a sheriff's office incident report.
Deputies say an anonymous tip led them to Pinaula, who was wearing similar clothes to the person caught on surveillance video at Lakeside High when he spoke to police Friday, the report stated. Pinaula admitted he and four friends went to the school late Thursday to dump garbage on the campus, but decided not to, the report stated.
The other four teens told police they went with Pinaula to Lakeside High and sprinkled salt in the shape of "EHS" on the school lawn and left. The teens told police Pinaula called them to return to spray-paint the school, but all denied going, the report stated.
Matthew Scott Drouin, 17, of the 200 block of Kestwick Drive in Martinez; Noah Keefee Pulley, 17, of the 800 block of Lake Royal Drive in Grovetown; Anthony Scott Randall, 18, of the 100 block of Caymen Drive in Martinez; and Brian Michael Toole, 17, of the 4700 block of Brookwood Drive in Grovetown, turned themselves in to the Columbia County Detention Center Saturday on a misdemeanor criminal trespass charge, according to jail records.
Pinaula, while police interviewed his four friends, admitted to spray-painting the school, the report stated. Drouin, Pulley, Randall and Toole turned themselves in to police Saturday and were released the same day after posting an $1,100 bond, according to jail records.
Man reports unauthorized use of personal information
A Martinez man told deputies twice in one week that someone used his personal information to withdraw money from his bank account.
The man told deputies on Thursday that he discovered two fraudulent withdrawals from his Wachovia account for $2,500 and $3,500 while checking his account online. The bank informed the man the withdrawals were made at a Wachovia location in Newark, Del.
The man called deputies again Friday after discovering two more unauthorized withdrawals for the same amounts.
A bank representative told the man someone made the withdrawals using a photocopy of a driver's license with his personal information.
The man closed the account, the report stated.
Lions' den turned into a barnyard
Police say someone dropped several barnyard animals into an Augusta Christian Schools classroom over the weekend.
Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Donna Dunham said school officials discovered two roosters, three rabbits and five ducks inside a high school English classroom and called police at about 7:30 a.m. Monday. It appears a window was left open and someone entered, leaving the animals and then securing the window and leaving through a side door, Dunham said.
The animals were collected by Columbia County Animal Care and Control officers. They later were determined to have been taken from Brown's Feed and Seed, in Evans, and Animal Care and Control officers returned the animals to owner Donnie Brown on Tuesday morning.
Though it is unsure exactly when the animals were left at the school, Pam Tucker, Columbia County's Emergency Services director, said the animals were there long enough to make a large, smelly mess.
Dunham said Monday that investigators have no leads in the case, which she said will continue to be investigated as criminal trespass.
The following accounts qre taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office:
Information leads to identity fraud
An Evans couple called deputies Sept. 13 to report that someone stole their identity and had spent more than $1,100 on their credit card.
The couple, both in their 70s, of Amberley Drive, told police that on Sept. 9 a man called, claiming to be from a credit card company, and needed to verify their information.
The couple said they provided the man with their dates of birth, Social Security numbers and credit card information.
On Sept. 12, the couple said they discovered three unauthorized purchases on their credit card - one on Sept. 9 for $129.99, a second on Sept. 10 for $129.99 and a third on Sept. 10 for $924.
Martinez-Columbia Fire and Rescue Activity Report for the week of Sept. 8-14:
Structure fires, seven; vehicle fires, three; fire alarms, four; natural gas leak, one; medical calls, 13; rescue calls, eight; investigations, three; and public service, two.