Police Blotter

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

//

Liquor store owner chases shoplifter who took bottles

An Evans businessman chased a man who tried to steal two bottles from his liquor store Tuesday.

The owner of Evans Package Store, 4115 Columbia Road, said that just after 2 p.m. a man he had seen in the store before hid a bottle of Absolut vodka and a bottle of Captain Morgan's rum under his jacket and headed for the door. The owner told the man to stop, but the shoplifter ran out.

The owner chased the thief and caught him by the jacket. The shoplifter punched him, wriggled out of the jacket and ran away.

The thief dropped the bottles out of his jacket during the scuffle.

A cell phone was in the jacket pocket. When police called the number listed as "Dad," a man confirmed the cell phone belonged to his son. His son had not been charged as of Thursday.

Hooded men attack teen in Plantation Road yard

Three men attacked an Evans teenager Monday outside a Martinez home.

The 18-year-old said he was in the front yard of a Plantation Road residence that evening when three men wearing hooded sweatshirts attacked him. The attackers wore all black with blue bandanas over their faces. They left in a large black truck.

The teen was taken to Doctors Hospital, where he called police. He had injuries to his forehead, chest, elbow, palm and calf.

Three juveniles charged after grass fire near school

Three juveniles were charged in connection with a grass fire near Lakeside High School.

A neighbor called police after she saw them setting fire to a field near 656 Kemper Drive.

Police found two 13-year-olds and a 12-year-old at a nearby Hunterdale Drive home. One of the 13-year-old boys admitted he was playing with a lighter, burning a piece of paper, when grass also caught fire. The three youths said they were unable to stamp out the fire. They said they ran away because they were scared.

They were released to their parents. They face Juvenile Court charges.

Thief steals donation jar from convenience store

A man stole a Muscular Dystrophy Association donation jar from the checkout counter of a Martinez Circle K store.

The manager said the man entered the store at 3934 Washington Road just after 9:30 p.m. Monday and stole the jar, which contained about $30.