Police blotter

Martinez woman killed in house fire

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An elderly Martinez woman killed in a house fire early Tuesday died of smoke, soot and super-heated gas inhalation, an autopsy confirmed Wednesday.

Victoria C. Quiller, 87, of 1615 Collins Drive in Martinez, died at her home off Old Belair Road, said Columbia County Deputy Coroner Tommy McPherson.

A neighbor reported the fire at 1:12 a.m. Tuesday, said Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Danny Kuhlmann. The front of the house was engulfed when firefighters arrived.

Firefighters found Quiller, who lived alone, in the living room in the back of the house, Kuhlmann said. The fire, which started in the front of the home, was caused by one of several space heaters in the house, the state fire marshal's office said. The house also was cluttered with furniture, which might have hindered Quiller's ability to escape, authorities said.

The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office:

Augustan arrested on habitual violator charge

Deputies arrested an Augusta man early Wednesday on a habitual-violator charge after a traffic stop in Martinez.

Antron Quintez McCladdie, 27, of the 2500 block of West Kingston Street, also faces an open-container charge and was released Thursday from the Columbia County Detention Center on a $6,200 bond.

Deputies responding to a loitering call at the Circle K on Old Evans Road reported a vehicle weaving on the road. When the deputies tried to stop the vehicle, they said, McCladdie got out and tried to hide in the passenger-side back seat of the car.

A check of McCladdie's record found him to be a habitual violator.

Grovetown man says he received harassing calls

An elderly Grovetown man told deputies Monday morning that he suspects a man he previously prosecuted for harassing phone calls is at it again.

The 76-year-old from the 100 block of Lewiston Road said he has received about 15 calls with music playing since Jan. 25. When the retiree called the number indicated on Caller ID, he recognized the voice on the answering machine as the Augusta man he pursued prosecution against for the same crime in 2003.

The Grovetown man told deputies he wished to prosecute if an arrest is made.

Evans resident charged in obstruction case

An Evans man wanted on a probation violation in Gwinnett County, Ga., was arrested Tuesday on obstruction charges.

William Richard Rickerson, Jr., 30, of the 500 block of Fairfield Court, was released from the Columbia County Detention Center Thursday on a $4,400 bond, and transported to Gwinnett County for an outstanding warrant which charges Rickerson in connection with violating probation stemming from a robbery conviction, Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said.

Rickerson also faces reckless driving, suspended license and driving with no proof of insurance citations in Columbia County, according to jail records.

Deputies searching for Rickerson saw him near his home in a sport utility vehicle. He fled to his home and barricaded himself inside and would not allow police to enter for several minutes.

Rickerson was later arrested.