Police Blotter

Augusta man drowns at lake

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The body of a drowning victim at Clarks Hill Lake was recovered Thursday by Columbia County's dive rescue team.

Jesus Ramirez Gonzalez, 31, of the 300 block of Michelle Way in Augusta, went missing shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday while swimming outside the marked swimming beach at the Lake Springs recreation area, said Columbia County Assistant Coroner Harriet Garrison. Two friends were riding on a personal watercraft while Gonzalez swam and were unable to find him when they returned.

The rescue team searched for Gonzalez for more than three hours without success. Dive team members found his body the next morning about 35 feet from shore, said Columbia County Emergency and Operations Director Pam Tucker.

No drug or alcohol use is suspected, Garrison said, and there were no signs of injury on Gonzalez's body.

Evans man sought on theft charges

Columbia County police have been unable to find an Evans man charged with stealing at least $6,000 from a Kroger shopper last month.

Nicholas Glenn Hamilton, 22, has been charged with theft. Authorities think he is in Florida or Washington state, sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said.

Surveillance video showed three men involved in taking a wallet off a customer service counter at the grocery store June 16. The other men in the video were identified, but only Hamilton has been charged.

Hamilton is described as white, 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, with brown hair. Anyone with information about the theft or Hamilton's whereabouts is asked to call the Columbia County Sheriff's Office at (706) 541-2800.

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

Woman charged with drunkenness

A Grovetown woman was charged with public drunkenness and contempt of court Wednesday at Columbia County Probate Court.

Crystal Capehart, 31, was arrested after a deputy approached her and smelled alcohol on her breath. Capehart refused to take an alcohol test and was placed under arrest.

Capehart was taken to the Columbia County Detention Center where she was being held without bond.

Adventure Crossing go-karts vandalized

The service manager at Adventure Crossing told police on July 3 that someone sprayed go-karts with a fire extinguisher.

The 40-year-old said that when he arrived to work at about 8 a.m. he heard go-karts running down the large track at the Martinez entertainment facility. He found two karts parked at the service shop on the track still running.

Two fire extinguishers were lying on the small track.

Bullet hole found in air conditioner

A Harlem man called police July 3 after he found a bullet hole in his air-conditioning unit.

The 69-year-old said he heard gunshots near his house on G.R. Tucker Road. A short time later, he noticed his home getting warmer and walked outside to check the air conditioner. He found holes where a bullet had entered and exited the unit.

He told police the gunshots came from the woods behind his house.

Woman threatened by novelty sword

A Grovetown woman called police Wednesday after her ex-boyfriend threatened her with a novelty sword.

The 30-year-old said the man climbed through a bathroom window and went uninvited into the house. He picked up a metal sword and pointed it at her. She said he touched her with the point of the sword. He ran off when she told him she was calling police.

No charges were filed.