Police blotter
Evans teen charged in cell mate assault
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An Evans inmate was charged Tuesday with sexual battery of his 17-year-old cell mate at Columbia County Detention Center.
Bradley Mandela Houston, 19, was charged with sexual battery, said sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris.
On the morning of Nov. 27, Houston's cell mate told jailers that the teen came to his bunk during the night, pulled his pants down and forcibly sodomized him despite several pleas to stop. The victim was taken to University Hospital for an evaluation, according to a sheriff's office report.
The Martinez resident, serving a sentence for a shoplifting conviction and charges of terroristic threats and acts, was moved within the jail to serve the remainder of his sentence.
Houston is being held at the jail on a $3,300 bond, which includes his previous charges of driving with a suspended license and no proof of insurance, according to jail records.
The following accounts were taken from reports from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. Reports are available at www.columbiacountyso.org:
Robbery reported at Evans store
A man robbed an Evans clothing store Tuesday.
An employee at Rue 21 in Mullins Crossing shopping center told police that a man came to the register about 6:45 p.m. with merchandise.
As she scanned the items, he put his hand inside his jacket and said that if she didn't open the register, he would shoot.
After the manager came to the register, the robber forced her to open the register and give him money.
He got the money and told her to put the merchandise and coins from the register into a bag. He left with the money.
The robber is described as black, between 35 and 45 years old, about 6 feet tall and weighing 180 pounds.
School bus fight ends in one arrest
A 16-year-old student was charged with battery Wednesday, accused of hitting another student on a Columbia County school bus.
About 7 a.m. Wednesday on bus No. 966 near Pumpkin Center on Appling-Harlem Road, the 16-year-old hit the victim in the groin with his fist.
The victim fought back, hitting the attacker in his stomach and neck before being hit in the face.
The suspect, who denied starting the fight, was released to his mother's custody.
Men arrested in Kmart shoplifting
Two Waynesboro, Ga., men were arrested Monday after a Kmart loss prevention officer saw them take several items from the Martinez store.
The employee said he saw Jamall Vandrell Abrams, 22, and Shwanqil Lavone Conner, 19, at the jewelry counter about 5 p.m. Conner put a gold chain set, a gold ring and a gold necklace into his pockets.
Abrams went to the men's department and took two knit hats and a pair of Christmas socks, the employee said.
The suspects were released Tuesday from the Columbia County Detention Center on bonds of $1,600.
Identity stolen for new store accounts
Someone using a Columbia County man's name opened several retail store accounts.
He told police Tuesday that he received letters from a bank regarding accounts at Lowe's, The Home Depot, HH Gregg and Best Buy. He has accounts with Lowe's and The Home Depot, but said someone tried to open additional accounts in Cleveland.
More than $8,600 was charged on the Lowe's account in Ohio. He doesn't have friends or family in Ohio.