Police blotter

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

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Police say teen pours chemical over woman

A manager of a Martinez furniture store was the victim of mistaken identity Tuesday a Columbia teenager asked by his cousin to avenge a breakup dumped chemicals over the wrong woman's head, police said.

Alexander Jamal Cannon, 17, is charged with simple battery and second-degree criminal damage to property. He was held without bond at the Columbia County Detention Center.

Employees of Mike's Furniture and More on Bobby Jones Expressway told deputies that Cannon entered the store around closing time and was acting suspiciously. After briefly leaving the store and telling employees he was waiting for his mother for help, Cannon asked a manager to show him a dining room set.

As she opened doors in the set, the manager said, Cannon dumped a large plastic cup containing a chemical solution into her face and upper body. The manager said employees locked the store's front door after hearing her scream for help, and chased Cannon around the showroom.

By the time deputies arrived, employees had detained the teen. He told deputies he had been asked by a cousin to pour the chemicals onto an ex-girlfriend who works in the store.

The manager, who is not the ex-girlfriend, said she was aware of the domestic situation of the employee, who already had left work that day. The manager refused medical treatment despite noticeable skin irritation caused by what is believed to be a hair-treatment solution. The substance also damaged several items of furniture at the store.

Gunshots exchanged as men try to enter vehicle

A Grovetown man told deputies Sept. 2 that he exchanged gunfire with someone involved with a group that tried to break into his vehicle.

The 35-year-old Dawson Road resident said he noticed a motion-sensor light turn on outside his home at 2:45 a.m. He looked out his window and saw that his front gate was open.

He went outside with his .32-caliber pistol to check on the vehicle and saw two men near his truck. They immediately turned and ran. A third person at the road fired two shots at the homeowner.

The homeowner and the third stranger exchanged gunfire until he heard a woman telling the intruders to "hurry up, let's get out of here." The homeowner thought the intruders left in a dark pickup.

A neighbor told deputies he could not tell what kind of vehicle. Six shell casings were recovered by deputies.

Police say dumped man threw rocks into home

A Martinez man was arrested early Sept. 2 after he threw rocks through a window at a McCormick Road home after being dumped by his ex-girlfriend, police said.

Arthur Frank Williams, 50, of Moncreif Street, is charged with obstruction, simple battery, criminal trespass and second-degree criminal damage to property. He was released the same day on $5,800 bond.

Several witnesses, including Williams' ex-girlfriend, told deputies he arrived at the home about 1 a.m. and beat windows and screamed threats. When the 39-year-old Augusta woman refused to talk with Williams, he let the air out of the tires on another woman's car, witnesses said.

As Williams ran toward the home, a window shattered. A witness told deputies something struck her from behind after the window broke. Deputies discovered three baseball-size rocks in the home, including one lodged in a wall. Williams was charged with obstruction for resisting arrest, authorities said. Williams admitted to throwing rocks because his ex-girlfriend was ignoring him. She also told deputies Williams had threatened her over the phone earlier in the evening.

Assault reported after argument over cell phone

An Appling teen told deputies Aug. 31 that her boyfriend assaulted her after an argument over a cellular phone.

The 17-year-old from Pecan Road said the 21-year-old Lincolnton man took her phone away from her, prompting an argument that turned physical. She said he grabbed her by the throat, hit her in the chest with his elbow and bit her on the back of her neck.

While deputies were filing the incident report, the man called the girl. Deputies listened to the conversation as the man apologized for injuring her.

Deputies saw bruises on the girl's arms and chest. No arrests had been made as of Friday.