Police Blotter
Martinez firefighter arrested in trespass
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A Martinez firefighter was released Sunday after being arrested by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.
Stephen Shelton Weddle, 34, of the 2000 block of Telfair Street, Augusta, was charged with criminal trespass after breaking into a residence near his home, said Richmond County sheriff's Investigator Brandon Beckman. He was released after posting a $2,300 bond, according to jail personnel.
Weddle told police he broke into a woman's home to secure illegal drugs while she was out of town. Beckman said it was part of Weddle's plan to provide police with evidence to arrest people who had shown interest in buying the drugs. Weddle is a firefighter for Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue, and has been suspended while the incident is under investigation.
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office:
Woman arrested in shoplifting case
An Augusta woman was in the Richmond County jail Monday after being arrested on a charge of shoplifting from the Augusta Target store Friday - hours after being accused of the same crime at the Evans Target.
Gwendolyn Shibra Harris, 39, of the 100 block of Gordon Highway, was charged with shoplifting in Richmond County and was being held on a $5,600 bond, according to jail personnel. Columbia County authorities have issued a warrant for shoplifting for Harris.
A loss prevention officer at the Target on Washington Road in Evans told police that just after 4:30 p.m. Thursday a woman, later identified as Harris, and a man walked out of the store without paying for two television sets. The officer was unable to stop them, so he contacted the Augusta Target store to send photos of the shoppers.
At 8:50 p.m. Thursday, police were called as a man and woman tried to walk out of the Augusta Target with items. Harris was stopped by police, but the man left. The Evans store's loss prevention officer identified Harris as the shoplifting suspect.
Nails are found in worker's driveway
A Columbia County Sheriff's Office employee told authorities Sunday that between 8:45 p.m. Saturday and 1 a.m. Sunday someone put roofing nails in her driveway while she was away. She said her sister and her sister's friend ran over the nails in their vehicles; the nails were found embedded in their tires.
Church dishwasher stolen overnight
The treasurer of New Heights Baptist Church in Martinez reported Thursday that someone had stolen a dishwasher between 8 p.m. Sept. 5 and 10:40 a.m. Thursday.
Police found the church's rear door had been forced open. They found fingerprints on a rear window.
Woman finds her car spray-painted
An Evans teenager told police Sunday that someone vandalized her car with black spary paint.
The 17-year-old said that between midnight and 9:50 a.m. Sunday, someone spray-painted her Chevrolet Cavalier while it was parked outside her home.
The teen said that as she left for work Sunday, she discovered the paint on the front and sides of her car; a derogatory name was painted on the back bumper.
Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue Activity Report for the week of Sept. 2-8:
Structure fires, three; controlled/unauthorized burns, four; activated fire alarms, nine; gas line ruptures, two; medical incidents, 31; vehicle accidents, six; investigate various incidents, two; and assist residents, one.