Police Blotter
Man arrested for rape gets bond
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A judge granted a bond Thursday for a Martinez man arrested on rape charges nearly two years after a 17-year-old claimed he raped her.
The Superior Court judge granted Michael James O'Grady Jr., 43, of West Lake Drive, a $75,000 bond for the rape charge. He was released from the Columbia County Detention Center on Thursday after posting a $76,100 bond, according to jail records.
O'Grady also was charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor.
The teen reported the rape to police at the time, but she opted not to prosecute, Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said. Now 19, she changed her mind and wants to press charges against O'Grady, Morris said.
She claims that in October 2008 a friend took her to meet O'Grady at the West Lake golf course in the early hours of the morning, according to a police incident report. She said O'Grady asked the friend to leave so he could talk with her alone.
The teen said he then assaulted her. Se said she tried to escape, but O'Grady was bigger and stronger and raped her against the golf car. The teen said she eventually pushed him away and ran.
It was at the golf course where police arrested him July 31, according to jail records.
The following accounts were taken from reports from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. Additional reports are available at www.columbia countyso.org:
Woman assaulted while walking
A Grovetown woman reported to police Wednesday that she was assaulted while walking on Hereford Farm Road.
The 41-year-old said she was walking near Cox Road just after 1 a.m. when she was approached by another pedestrian.
The man asked her where she was going and what her problem was.
When the woman ignored his comments, she said the man ran up behind her and pushed her to the ground.
The man put his hand over the woman's mouth and told her she didn't need to scream, he wasn't going to hurt her.
The woman said he then ran into a nearby wooded area. She said her personal belongings, including her drivers' license, Social Security card, cell phone and miscellaneous papers were on the ground behind her. She didn't have any money at the time.
The man was not found and the woman declined to prosecute.
Identity stolen for credit accounts
An Evans couple told police Tuesday that someone stole their personal information to open and use numerous credit accounts.
The 35-year-old said he recently received a bill from HSBC Best Buy for $4,143.67, but he doesn't have a Best Buy account and has not made any purchases. He froze the account, put out a fraud alert and contacted Equifax for a copy of his credit report. His report showed a Kohl's credit card account he didn't open with an $845 balance. The card was used to buy BP and Home Depot gift cards between July 18-20, the man said.
The man's wife told police she checked her credit report and found an Apple Visa through Barclays Bank. When she alerted the bank of the fraud, a representative informed her the card had a $3,284 balance.
The man said his credit report also showed someone attempted to open a Gap credit account in his name on July 26.
Materials stolen from county site
A contractor for Columbia County Water Utility told police Monday that he saw someone leaving a county construction site with more than $1,300 worth of materials.
The foreman of the contracted plumbing crew said he arrived at the site on Hereford Farm Road at Blanchard Road at about 10 a.m. and saw a gray Ford F-150 truck driven by a man with blond hair leaving with the materials.
Missing was $450 worth of iron pipe and four 16-inch mega lug bolts worth $900.
Intruder breaks in, pours out cereal
A Martinez woman said someone broke into her home Tuesday and spilled cereal in the kitchen.
The 40-year-old said she left to go school shopping about 12:45 p.m. When she returned to her Maywood Drive home four hours later, the front door was open.
After inspecting the house, the woman said nothing was stolen, but cereal had been poured on the kitchen counter and floor.