Police blotter
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office:
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Grovetown man charged with child molestation
A 22-year-old Grovetown man was arrested Nov. 24, charged with molesting a 3-year-old boy.
Abel Montiel Contreras, of the 300 block of Whiskey Road, is charged with child molestation and was being held Friday at the Columbia County Detention Center on $25,100 bond.
A witness told police she saw Contreras molest the boy, according to a Grovetown Department of Public Safety incident report.
Public Safety Capt. Gary Owens said the incident is still under investigation and declined to comment.
Suspect still at large in car break-in case
An Augusta man identified as the suspect who eluded arrest in a series of car break-ins and prompted six Martinez-area schools to lock down Tuesday remained at large Friday.
Police say Christopher Michael Ciechan, 24, of the 2500 block of Milledgeville Road, escaped arrest at about 6 a.m. Tuesday after deputies responded to calls in the area of Shenandoah Ridge Apartments about someone breaking into automobiles.
Deputies caught Nicholas Brigham, 22, of the 1800 block of Tubman Home Road, Augusta. Brigham is charged with entering an automobile, loitering and prowling. He was being held Friday at Columbia County Detention Center on $5,375 bond.
Brigham also is wanted on a charge of aggravated battery in Richmond County in an Oct. 20 incident in which a man was hit in the head with a handgun during a dispute over money.
On Tuesday, Columbia County sheriff's deputies asked that South Columbia Elementary School be locked down as a security precaution because the man running from police - now identified as Ciechan - was seen near the school, Lt. Andy Shedd said.
Blue Ridge Elementary, Lakeside Middle, Lakeside High, Augusta Christian Schools and Martinez Montessori School locked down on their own, Shedd said. Police say Ciechan and Brigham could be involved in a series of car break-ins in the area.
Lawn decorations stolen in Evans neighborhood
An Evans woman told deputies Monday that someone stole an inflatable Christmas yard ornament from her front lawn.
The 68-year-old from the 4100 block of Bridlewood Trail told deputies she last saw her 7-foot tall inflatable snowman late Nov. 26 and it was missing from her yard Monday morning. The inflatable snowman was valued at $80.
Construction supplies stolen in Martinez
A contractor told deputies Monday that someone stole construction supplies and a water heater from the Martinez location of a trucking company.
The 40-year-old from Valhalla Court told deputies someone stole the water heater, several rolls of insulation and lumber from Investment Trucking Inc. in the 4000 block of Enterprise Court.
The theft occurred sometime between the evening of Nov. 25 and about 11 a.m. Nov. 26.