Police blotter

Former bookkeeper rearrested in theft

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A former bookkeeper of Trucks and Moore in Martinez was rearrested Monday on theft charges.

A Columbia County grand jury recently indicted Joy Sandlin Mercer, 41, of Swan Drive in Evans, on five counts of felony theft by taking. Although she was arrested at the time the business owner discovered the theft, Mercer was rearrested Monday on a grand jury warrant. She was released from the Columbia County Detention Center on Wednesday after posting a $50,000 bond, according to jail personnel.

Mercer was the comptroller and bookkeeper at the business on Bobby Jones Expressway. In November, the business owner, Larry Moore, told police he found evidence that she had taken money, according to a Columbia County Sheriff's Office report.

The indictment accuses Mercer of stealing at least $2,500 from the business between August 2007 and November 2009.

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

Woman confronts intruder at home

An Evans woman told police Monday that she confronted a man trying to break into her home.

The 34-year old said that at about 7 a.m. she heard someone banging on her back door in the 4100 block of Fairfield Circle and that she confronted him.

The stranger jumped an 8-foot fence and ran to the woman's front door, where he pushed her away from the door and entered the house.

The ran away from the residence when the woman called police.

About 7:30 p.m., the woman called police back to her house when she saw that her back door had been kicked in. She left her home at 3:30 p.m. and saw the damage when she returned.

Deputies determined that the door had been forced open but didn't find anyone in the house.

Teen charged with beating boy on bus

A 12-year-old Grovetown boy told police Wednesday that a 14-year-old classmate repeatedly beat him up on the school bus.

The boy told the bus driver of the incident on Wednesday as he got off the bus. However, according to an incident report, it was the boy's father who complained to police.

Police contacted the teen, who said he didn't know why he threatened to hurt the younger boy. He admitted to punching the younger boy but considered it horseplay.

Police said the teen was arrogant and told them he was a member of the MS-13 street gang. He was charged with simple battery and released to his father.

Man threatens after wrong-number call

An Evans woman called police Tuesday after someone who dialed a wrong number threatened to kill her.

The 54-year-old said that just after 1 p.m. she received a call from a man asking to speak to Mildred. The woman said she had received several calls for Mildred.

When the woman told the caller that no person named Mildred was at the home, he said, "I know where you live, and I'm going to kill you."

El Camino stolen from Evans car lot

The owner of Evans Consignment Sales, 4031 Washington Road, told police that between noon Monday and 9:30 a.m. Tuesday someone stole a 1986 gold Chevrolet El Camino from the lot.

The car is worth $8,500, she said.

The woman said the car doors were locked and she has the keys.