Police blotter
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office:
//
Two arrested on shoplifting charge
Two Augusta men were arrested Thursday after one tried to shoplift from the Evans Target, assaulted an employee and ran out of the store in front of an officer, police said.
Seanque Lavert Hester, 27, of the 3400 block of Sharon Road, was charged with misdemeanor shoplifting and simple battery and was being held Tuesday in the Columbia County Detention Center on a $2,200 bond, according to jail records. Police also arrested William Phillip Huey, 57, of the 2300 block of Wheeless Road, charging him on a felony shoplifting warrant. He was released Monday on a $2,600 bond, according to jail records.
The loss prevention manager of Target, at 4223 Washington Road, told police Thursday that just before 2 p.m. Hester tried to steal a $35 tool kit and a $200 TV/DVD combination. When the manager confronted Hester at the door, Hester abandoned the merchandise, pushed the manager aside and ran.
The manager chased the suspect into the parking lot in front of a sheriff's investigator. The investigator followed Hester to a Ford Ranger, which he blocked in. The investigator ordered Hester and Huey out of the truck at gunpoint and arrested them.
Woman says gas stolen from vehicle
A Martinez woman told police Thursday that someone had stolen gas from her vehicle.
The 63-year-old said that between 2:30 and 7:30 a.m. someone took a half a tank of gasoline from her locked GMC Jimmy.
She said the fuel gauge on the vehicle, which was parked in her driveway, showed a half tank of gas before she went to bed. When she woke up Thursday morning, the gas gauge showed no gas and the vehicle would not start.
Man charged with terroristic threats
A Hephzibah man was arrested Friday morning, accused of threatening the manager of an Evans retailer.
Sherrod Sheridan McClain, 29, of the 3300 block of Thames Road, was charged with making terroristic threats after reportedly threatening to shoot a manager at the Wal-Mart at 4471 Washington Road. He was being held Tuesday at the Columbia County Detention Center on a $2,600 bond.
The manager told police McClain entered the store at 11:10 p.m. Thursday acting suspiciously. The manager said he believed McClain was trying to shoplift. He followed McClain, who realized he was being followed and ran into the parking lot.
When the manager followed McClain into the lot, McClain shouted at him and threatened to shoot him and "bust a cap on everyone up here." McClain left the lot, but was found shortly after the incident.
Administrator's truck is stolen
A Columbia County high school administrator told police Friday that someone had stolen his truck.
The Lakeside High School assistant principal told police that between 9 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday someone took his Ford F-150 from the driveway of his Martinez home.
Richmond County deputies found the truck about 8:30 a.m. at a Stevens Creek Road address in Augusta. The vehicle was returned to its owner.
The man said the only item missing was a CVS bag taken from the front seat containing four packs of gum and a bottle of glucose.
Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue Activity Report for the week of Sept. 9-15:
Structure fires, two; wood/brush/grass fires, two; vehicle fires, three; controlled/unauthorized burn, one; activated fire alarms, nine; gas line ruptures, two; medical incidents, 24; vehicle accidents, 13; electrical incident, one; investigate various incidents, seven; weather damage, one; and assist residents, one.