Police blotter
Evans man charged with child molestation
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An Evans man faces child molestation and aggravated sexual battery charges after police say he inappropriately touched a minor during the course of many years.
Edward George Ferrang, 57, of the 1300 block of Shadow Oak Drive, was being held Thursday at the Columbia County Detention Center. He had a $25,100 bond for the child molestation charge and no bond set for the aggravated sexual battery charge.
Ferrang, who was arrested Jan. 5, is accused of inappropriately touching a 17-year-old girl since she was 9, Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris stated in an e-mail.
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office:
Cards stolen from investigator's car
An employee at an Evans car wash has been charged with stealing gift cards from a truck belonging to Capt. Steve Morris, the head of the Columbia County sheriff's Criminal Investigations Division.
Dana Louise Lackes, 27, of the 3900 block of Bird Road, in Augusta, is charged with theft by taking and driving on a suspended license. She is being held at the Columbia County Detention Center on a warrant for failure to pay child support in Richmond County, Morris said.
Morris said he discovered Monday that five Wal-Mart gift cards valued at $10 each had been taken from the cab of his pickup truck while it was being cleaned at Top Notch Car Wash on North Belair Road.
The two employees assigned to clean the truck were questioned by deputies and they and their vehicles were searched, but the cards were not recovered.
One of the employees told deputies she drove away from the scene to get food while the truck was being washed. That admission led to the charge of driving with a suspended license against Lackes, and deputies later discovered the outstanding warrant. Morris said the gift cards were recovered.
An interview of an employee led to a charge of driving on a suspended license.
Woman's game system stolen from home
An Evans woman told deputies Monday that a video game system was stolen from her home.
The 39-year-old from the 3700 block of Mahoney Drive told deputies a Nintendo Wii video game console and six games were stolen from her home between 4 and 6 p.m. The system and games were valued at $500.
No arrests had been made as of Thursday.
Money stolen from tip jar at restaurant
A manager of a Martinez restaurant told deputies Monday that he suspects an employee stole money.
The manager of Rack and Grill on Old Petersburg Road told deputies he saw an employee take a tip jar off the bar during a review of security tapes from Jan. 6. The employee then put money into her jacket pocket and left the restaurant.
The manager provided deputies a copy of the tape. No arrests had been made as of Thursday.