Police blotter
Evans teen dies in Saturday wreck
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A two-car wreck near Clarks Hill Lake on Saturday left an Evans teen dead and sent five others to the Medical College of Georgia Hospital.
The collision occurred about 3 p.m. on Washington Road near Old Lincolnton Highway.
Rachel Callie Meadows, an Evans resident and 2007 Greenbrier High School graduate, died in the wreck, said Columbia County Deputy Coroner Harriett Garrison.
Emergency crews, including a helicopter, responded to the scene.
Meadows was driving a Honda Accord westbound on Washington Road and swerved into the path of an oncoming Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by Priscilla Gillchrest, 37, said Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris.
Passengers in the Tahoe were Ruby Williams, 64; Davonna Williams, 30; Jimeria Gillchrest, 14; and Davondria Smith, 7. All five are from Ninety Six, S.C., and were taken to MCG with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, Morris said.
Owner of stores turns himself in
The owner of four Columbia County cell phone stores raided by police Friday surrendered to authorities Monday.
Christopher Michael Bettis, 28, of Evans, turned himself in to the Columbia County Detention Center, Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said.
Bettis was wanted after Friday raids at his T-Mobile stores turned up handbags, wallets, sunglasses and other merchandise suspected of being designer counterfeits. He was charged with insurance fraud and two counts of counterfeit trademark violations and is being held without bond, Morris said.
The following accounts were taken from reports provided by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office:
Juveniles escape shoplifting charges
Three juveniles avoided shoplifting charges Saturday after they were caught stealing clothing from an Evans department store.
The loss prevention associate for Kohl's called police Saturday after receiving a tip that the three were on their way to the store at 4227 Washington Road. The associate said she saw them take clothing into the dressing room and exit without the items.
Police located the three teens in the parking lot and escorted them back to Kohl's. The three had stolen the clothing by putting it on under other clothes. The associates and the store did not prosecute, but the juveniles were banned.
Vending machines emptied of cash
A Georgia Iron & Steel employee called police Saturday after finding four vending machines burglarized.
The employee said between 5:30 p.m. Friday and 5:30 a.m. Saturday, someone used a torch to cut the locks from four machines owned by A&A Vending Services.
All the money was stolen from the machines.
Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue Activity Report for the week of Jan. 27-Feb. 2:
Structure fires, three; wood/brush/grass fires, three; vehicle fire, one; dumpster fire, one; controlled/unauthorized burns, six; activated fire alarms, nine; medical incidents, 25; vehicle accidents, five; gas line ruptures, three; investigate various incidents, six; assist citizens, three; and other, one.: