Police blotter

Two robbery suspects arrested; two more sought

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Columbia County authorities arrested two people Thursday and were looking for two more following an armed robbery of a Martinez jewelry store.

Police charged Gerson Ayala-Romero, 25, of McMinnville, Tenn., and Elisa Yojana, 24, of Atlanta, with armed robbery, theft by taking motor vehicle and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said. Two more suspects remained at large.

Three people entered the Gold Shop at 3817 Washington Road about 2:30 p.m. with guns and a knife and demanded jewelry. The robbers also stole an employee's red Ford Mustang.

Driver loses control of car and injures 3 pedestrians

Three pedestrians were injured Wednesday after a man lost control of his car in a Martinez neighborhood.

The driver of the Pontiac Grand Prix, Kirk Johnson, 23, of Martinez, was arrested and charged with driving with a suspended license, driving too fast for conditions and failing to maintain the lane, said Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris. Johnson was released from the Columbia County Detention Center on Thursday after posting a $3,300 bond, according to jail personnel.

The victims had been mowing grass in Forest Creek subdivision about 6:15 p.m. when they were hit.

George Brown, 34, of 3871 Villa Lane, was taken to University Hospital, where he was treated and released Wednesday. Isaac Anthony, 15, of the same address, received minor injuries and was not taken to a hospital. Donald Ford, 76, of Augusta, was taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital, where he was listed in Fair condition Friday.

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

Police seek ex-employee in theft of building supplies

Police are looking for a former Maner Building Supply employee they suspect conspired with a customer to steal from the Martinez business.

A store owner told police in June that Antonia Pereze Jackson, 35, of Madrid Drive in Augusta, helped a customer remove inventory from the business at 3717 Washington Road. The actions were caught on video surveillance three times.

More than $25,000 worth of merchandise was stolen in the scheme.

Anyone who knows where Jackson is should call sheriff's Investigator Nash Garrett at (706) 541-3943.

2 flimflammers scam store cashiers out of hundreds

Authorities are searching for two men they say used confusion to take $400 from a convenience store near Interstate 20.

The men took items costing less than a dollar to two cashiers at the Pilot, 4091 Jimmie Dyess Parkway, on Aug. 22. They gave the cashiers large bills, then confused them by asking for change several times. They left with $400 belonging to the store.

The scammers are described as black and in their mid-40s to mid-50s. They left in a large, dark-green four-door car.

Anyone knowing who or where the men are should call the sheriff's office at (706) 541-2800.

Middle school girl charged with having knife at school

A Lakeside Middle School pupil was charged Wednesday with taking a knife to school.

A knife with a 3-inch blade was discovered in the girls' locker room. Several pupils identified the knife as belonging to the girl, who said she had the knife for protection.

She was charged with possession of a knife on school grounds and was taken to Columbia County Juvenile Court and the Columbia County Detention Center before being released to her mother.

Lost handbag is found in mailbox, but money isn't

A postal employee found a woman's purse in a mail drop box Tuesday after she lost it at the Martinez Walmart.

The 71-year-old said she had loaded groceries into her car at the store, 260 Bobby Jones Expressway but left her purse in the shopping cart. She called police, who contacted the store manager.

The manager said he had received a call from a man named Mack who had found the purse and dropped it in a mail box at the post office on Wrightsboro Road.

A postal employee found the purse. The woman picked it up but told police $80 was missing.