Police blotter
Deputy injured in wreck is in serious condition
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A Columbia County sheriff's deputy whose cruiser hit a deer on an Appling road remained in serious condition Tuesday, Medical College of Georgia Hospital officials said.
Deputy Thad Brown was called in as backup to a wreck with injuries Saturday involving people with several guns, according to sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris. Brown's patrol car hit a deer on Morris Calloway Road near White Oak Road at about 11 p.m., Morris said. The deputy lost control when the air bag deployed. The car flipped several times. Brown was airlifted to the hospital, Morris said.
Morris, who lives nearby, said Brown's injuries were likely caused by objects flying inside the car as it overturned. Brown's speed at the time of the wreck is unknown but is being investigated.
Jury finds man guilty of armed robbery
One of two men accused of robbing a Harlem convenience store at knifepoint in July 2005 was convicted Friday by a Columbia County jury.
After four days of testimony, the jury found Tifiloe Maurice Council, of Aiken, guilty of armed robbery, possession of a knife during the commission of a crime, terroristic threats and seven traffic charges.
A hearing to sentence Council has not been set, but he could receive life plus 26 years in prison, Assistant District Attorney Parks White said.
Police say Council, 33, and Timothy Wayne Osborne, 39, of Langley, entered the Pumpkin Center store on Appling-Harlem Highway on July 7, 2005, held a knife to the cashier's throat and forced her to open the cash register. The pair fled the store and were followed by police along Wrightsboro Road. Osborne was arrested when the car crashed into another car, then a power pole near Old Wrightsboro Road. Council ran away and was arrested a few hours later.
Osborne pleaded guilty to robbery by intimidation in September and is serving his 10-year sentence in Baldwin State Prison in Hardwick.
Man, two women held in methamphetamine bust
A man and two women were being held in the Columbia County Detention Center without bond after they were charged Jan. 3 with manufacturing methamphetamine in Evans.
On Jan. 3, police charged Wayne Scott Fernandez, 43, of the 3100 block of Scenic Drive in Augusta; Cheree Renee Garande, 29, of the 100 block of Kaschwina Court in Grovetown; and Jamie Cloud Brosious, 37, of the 100 block of Pond View Drive in Evans, with manufacturing methamphetamine, according to jail records.
Brosious also faces charges of possession of a Schedule III drug, possession of methamphetamine and manufacturing methamphetamine in the presence of children, jail records stated.
Police say a methamphetamine lab was discovered in Brosious' Pond View Drive home in Riverwood Plantation subdivision, which is near Greenbrier Elementary School.
Fernandez and Granade were arrested because a methamphetamine lab was found in the back of their truck as they were leaving Brosious' home.
Brosious has a combined $15,700 bond, but all three suspects still await a bond hearing for the manufacturing methamphetamine charge, Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said.
The following account was taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office:
Appling man charged with simple battery
An Appling man was arrested early Sunday morning after he was seen by a Columbia County sheriff's deputy hitting a woman outside the Little River Roadhouse in Appling.
Brannan Tray Lanier, 22, of the 3700 block of Johns Road, was charged with simple battery and obstruction of a police officer.
He was released after posting a $2,200 bond.
Martinez Fire Department Activity Report for Dec. 31-Jan. 6:
Structure fires, three; vehicle fire, one; wildland fire, one; fire alarms, 15; carbon monoxide alarm, one; natural gas leak, one; medical calls, 14; rescue calls, 12; investigations, four; public service, one; and other, two.