Police Blotter

Fire destroys home

//

No one was injured in a fire Saturday night that destroyed a house near the Columbia and Richmond county line.

The fire started about 9 p.m. at 483 Falcon Drive, near Stevens Creek Road, said Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue spokeswoman Honey Shore.

Firefighters from both Martinez-Columbia and Richmond County responded, she said. Initial efforts to extinguish the fire were slowed because the closest hydrant had no water, she said.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Monday.

The following accounts were taken from reports from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. Additional reports are available at www.columbiacountyso.org:

Sword-carrying man arrested

A sword-carrying Martinez man was arrested for public drunkenness early Sunday after refusing to leave a neighbor's home.

Thomas Richard Dechant, 51, reportedly began ringing a neighbor's doorbell and knocking on his front door about 2 a.m. at Shady Grove Court in Martinez. Dechant returned to the residence about an hour later and refused to leave the property. The 45-year-old neighbor said Dechant appeared to have been drinking.

When police arrived, Denchant was swaying as he walked. He said he had four to five beers Saturday night and refused a breath test.

Dechant, who was wearing a sheathed sword, told police that he was trying to speak with his neighbor, who he claimed "had an attitude."

Dechant was charged with public drunkenness and was being held Monday in the Columbia County Detention Center on $500 bond.

Vehicles vandalized

An Appling man called police Sunday after he found derogatory words written on his truck, which was parked in front of Petersburg Campground's entrance gate in Appling.

The 25-year-old said someone defaced the doors, tailgate and other parts of his GMC truck between 8 p.m. Saturday and 11:14 a.m. Sunday. The damages will cost about $700 to repair.

A Martinez woman called police Sunday after finding profane language written on the side of her Chevrolet in white paint.

Vehicle damaged with pellet-gun fire

A Harlem man told police Friday that two males shot and damaged his truck with a pellet gun on Louisville Road.

The 43-year-old said he was traveling north at 6:49 p.m. when two males, who may have been teenagers, shot his Chevrolet and damaged the passenger-side window.

The man could not show police the exact location of the incident.

Cleaner product poured on woman's belongings

A Martinez woman called police Sunday after someone damaged items in her home with a cleaning product.

She said someone entered her residence and poured Pine-Sol on clothes and a sofa, causing $500 worth of damage.

Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue Activity Report for the week of Oct. 12-18

Structure fires, two; wood/brush/grass fire, one; vehicle fire, one; controlled/unauthorized burns, four; dumpster fire, one.; activated fire alarms, 22; medical incidents, 18; vehicle accidents, seven; gas line ruptures, two; interior natural gas leak, one; investigate various incidents, six; assist residents, four; and other, one.