Police blotter

2 men stopped on I-20, arrested on drug charges

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Columbia County authorities arrested two men Tuesday on a drug charge after a traffic stop on Interstate 20.

The driver, Danilo Orlando Perez-Gudiel, of the 3900 block of English Oak Drive, Doraville, Ga., was charged with speeding, driving while unlicensed and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, said Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris.

The passenger, Isidro Cruz-Bibiano, of the 3300 block of Spring Lake Drive, Decatur Ga., was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, Morris said.

Police had stopped Perez-Gudiel's van for speeding at mile marker 190 at about 1 a.m., Morris said. Investigators found 7 pounds of marijuana in a hidden compartment in the floor of the vehicle.

Cruz-Bibiano was released from the Columbia County Detention Center on Wednesday on $7,600 bond, according to jail records. Perez-Gudiel remained in custody Friday on $9,800 bond.

Grovetown Elementary pupil left on school bus

Columbia County school officials are investigating an incident in which a 5-year-old Grovetown Elementary School kindergartner was left on a school bus Tuesday afternoon.

Laura Cripps, 39, a four-year veteran bus driver, completed her afternoon route and returned to her home on Peri Leigh Road, where she performed a "post-drive sweep" of the bus, school officials and police said.

The driver then went into her house, and the boy, who had been lying in a seat, reportedly left the bus and began walking along the road, school officials said.

Authorities did not release the child's name, but Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris identified his mother as Melanie Santiago-Mendez, 22, of the 300 block of James Street in Grovetown.

A Harlem woman and her daughter found the child crying along Peri Leigh Road, took him home and called police at about 4:45 p.m. A sheriff's deputy returned the boy to the school and reunited him with his mother.

The school transportation department has had no previous problems with Cripp's performance, said school officials. They said the driver has been placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

Morris said there will be no charges against the driver, but the school's transportation department is continuing its investigation.

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

Evans woman reports threats from shopper

An Evans woman told deputies Tuesday that a woman threatened to harm her in a parking lot after a confrontation inside an Evans store.

The 28-year-old woman said the other shopper struck her in the side with a shopping cart while she waited to check out at Wal-Mart on Washington Road. When the Evans woman asked whether there was a problem, the shopper yelled at, her using profanity.

The angry shopper followed the Evans woman out to her car, cursing and threatening to shoot her in the face. The screamer, later identified as a former Wal-Mart employee, appeared to write down her license plate number as she tried to leave the store.

The Evans woman declined to press charges.

Harlem man reports he was punched in face

A disabled Harlem man told deputies late Tuesday a friend attacked him as he slept after a night of drinking.

The 50-year-old from Leitner Mill Road said his friend punched him in the face as he slept on his sofa. They had been drinking heavily that evening, and the assault was unprovoked, he said.

The suspect fled before authorities arrived. The victim was treated at Doctors Hospital for a cut and swelling to his left eye.

Martinez man reports harassing telephone calls

A Martinez man reported receiving harassing phone calls from a relative twice in two days.

The 34-year-old told deputies Tuesday that his brother-in-law called him numerous times Monday and threatened to kill him. He said the 29-year-old Augusta man cursed at him and threatened him.

He said the calls became increasingly violent Monday after his brother-in-law learned he had called police earlier in the day.

Police took recordings of the calls as evidence.