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Effingham County Sheriff's Office reports Dec. 6 edition
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Nov. 11

Dogs, Cats or Livestock Running At large Prohibited

A man advised that his neighbor’s two dogs had chewed through the fence and attacked his two pit bulls. The pit bulls had multiple injuries to their legs and chest. The man noted that his neighbor’s dogs have acted in an aggressive nature in the past. The pit bulls were taken to a veterinary clinic. The reporting officer was William West.

Nov. 12

Speeding in Excess of Maximum Limits (State Speed and Zone Violation); Driving Without License

A man was seen driving down the roadway at a very high rate off speed. He stated that he was in a rush to pick up his sister who was at work. He admitted to not having a license, and a background check confirmed this. He was swiftly placed under arrest, and a wrecker service was contacted to collect his vehicle. The reporting officer was Deandre Loucks.

Dogs, Cats or Livestock Running At large Prohibited

A man stated that while he was taking his two dogs for a walk, two larger dogs came up and attacked him. One of the larger dogs bit one of the man’s dogs on the side and on the back. The owner of the larger dogs said that they escaped from their fenced in area through the gate. He confirmed that he had contained them. The reporting officer was Terry Gideon.

Terroristic Threats and/or Acts
A woman stated that she received a phone call from her ex-husband who said that he could no longer afford to pay for his truck and child support. He asked if he could use some of the child support money to make the truck payments. When she refused, he threatened to kill her. She noted that she did
not think that her ex-husband would actually kill her, but she wanted police to know. The reporting officer was Matt Smith.

Nov. 13

Unsafe Vehicle or Equipment; riving While License Suspended or Revoked (Misdemeanor)

A man was spotted driving a tractor trailer down the roadway with its maker lights out. He was also failing to maintain his lane. He stated that the lights had a shortage in them which was causing them to go out. He also informed that he did not have his license present. A background check revealed that he currently had a suspended license. He was placed under arrest, and the trailer was released to a commercial driver. The reporting officer was Andrae Wright.

Wanted Person-Warrant Service

An anonymous source advised that a woman had accidently locked herself inside a shed. The woman stated that she simply dropped the key outside of the shed and needed someone to get it. Once she was freed, a background check was preformed which revealed that she had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear. She was swiftly placed under arrest for this charge. The reporting officer was Malcom Foy.

Criminal Trespass

A man stated that a suspicious person was driving around asking random people for directions. The suspicious person claimed that he was lost and looking for his girlfriend’s house. The man said that the suspicious person was walking and hiding behind random houses in the neighborhood that were located on private property. The suspicious was then arrested for criminal trespass. The man confirmed that nothing was missing from his property. The reporting officer was Deandre Loucks.

Nov. 14

Simple Assault; Obstruction of Law Enforcement (Misdemeanor)

A man stated that he had gotten into a physical altercation with his father. His mother said that he and his father had both had a lot to drink before getting into the fight. Other females on the scene confirmed that marijuana had been smoked at some point during the incident. The father initially refused to speak with police and became very agitated when asked to do so. He began to approach an officer in an aggressive manner before quickly calming down and sitting on the floor. He soon became aggressive again, and officers were forced to restrain him on the ground to arrest him. He continued to resist as he was being placed in a patrol car, but police were able to secure him. The mother ultimately supported the arrest. It was noted at the jail that the father had defecated himself and that fecal matter had gotten onto the back seat of the patrol car. It was removed and decontaminated. The reporting officer was Bryan Shearouse.

Nov. 15

Identity Theft Fraud to Create/Use/Possess

A man stated that someone hacked into his online account and purchased four brand new cell phones. The charges came out to over $3,500. A shipping service had sent him a confirmation e-mail with details of the purchase. The phones were purchased in his wife’s name. The internet provider blacklisted the phones and froze the man’s account to avoid any more purchases. The reporting officer was John Reinhart.

Burglary-First Degree (Felony); Theft by Taking- Misdemeanor ($500 or Less)

A woman stated that she returned to a house that she had been fixing up to find that it had been broken into. Not many items were in the house at the time of the theft, and the only note worthy thing that was missing was a stove. It was also discovered that the shed in the back yard had been broken into. Two boat motors and a table saw had been stolen out of it. The woman suspected that her nephew was to blame for the crime due to his previous criminal history. The reporting officer was Justin Hynko.

Identity Theft Fraud to Create/Use/Possess
A man stated that he had received multiple letters from businesses and banks regarding credit cards that he did not own. The letters had come over the past two weeks. He suspected that the credit
bureau had been hacked and that someone was using his name to open fraudulent credit cards. The reporting officer was John Reinhart.

Possession and Use of Drug Related Objects; Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Substance

A woman stated that she wanted her granddaughter and her boyfriend removed from her house due to their constant arguing. It was discovered that the two had a smoking pipe in the granddaughter’s
bedroom which was in arm’s reach of the bed. Both the granddaughter and the boyfriend, who claimed that that smoking pipe was not theirs, were arrested. The reporting officer was Matthew Petrea.

Nov. 16

Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance; Possession of Marijuana Less Than One Ounce; Obstruction of Law Enforcement (Misdemeanor)

Two men were spotted walking around a neighborhood in a suspicious manner. They were joined by a third man, and the group started to run before being caught and detained. They stated that they were not from the area and were visiting friends. It was later discovered that one of the men was hiding marijuana and another unknown drug in his vehicle. He was placed under arrest, and the other two men were given warnings. The reporting officer was William West.

Taillight Requirements; Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Misdemeanor)

A man was seen driving down the road with a broken taillight and a large crack in the windshield. A background check revealed that his license was suspended due to failure to appear. He was swiftly arrested, and his fiancé was contacted to collect the vehicle. The reporting officer was Deandre Loucks.

Criminal Trespass; ntering Automobile or Other Motor Vehicle with Intent to Commit a Crime; Theft by Taking- Misdemeanor ($500 or Less)

A man advised that someone had popped the trunk of his son’s car and stolen a pair of speakers. He suspected that two people were involved due to the size of the speakers. He noted that the speakers had been purchased at a local pawn shop. The reporting officer was John Reinhart.

Nov. 17

Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Substance
A woman was found lying on a bathroom floor in an unresponsive manner. Heroin and a needle were soon discovered near her body. She later awoke and confirmed that she had used heroin. She was transported to a local hospital to receive medical treatment. The reporting officer was Matthew Petrea.

Battery
A woman stated that she had gotten into an argument with her brother’s girlfriend. Things quickly escalated into a physical fight which involved the woman getting pushed and punched in the face with a flashlight. Her lip and nose became swollen due to the violence. Two of her friends who were witnesses confirmed this story. The girlfriend gave a different take which involved the woman going to her house to start. The woman was advised to stay away from the girlfriend. The reporting officer was Deandre Loucks.

Nov. 18

Theft by Receiving Stolen Property-Felony
A man was seen in the parking lot of a gas station with a very strong odor of marijuana coming from his vehicle. No drugs were located, but a firearm that was registered as stolen was found under the driver’s seat. The man was placed under arrest, and his vehicle was removed by a wrecker service. The reporting officer was Matthew Petrea.

Wanted Person-Warrant Service
Police attempted to issue a warrant to a woman, but discovered that she did not live at the address which was in their data banks. She was later located by her mother at a local gas station. While police spoke with the cashier at the gas station, the woman fled into the nearby woods. Her boyfriend found her later, and she turned herself in to officers. She was swiftly arrested. The reporting officer was Bobby McCloud.

DUI-Driving Under the Influence of Drugs; ossession of Methamphetamine; Failure to Maintain Lane

An unknown informant advised that a man had driven his vehicle into a ditch. The man stated that he did not remember how he ended up in the ditch. He had very slurred speech, and his explanations of the situation did not make any sense. He proceeded to place a pack of cigarettes on the ground that had a small yellow bag inside of it. It was later discovered that the bag contained methamphetamine. The man claimed that he had taken a prescribed medication earlier but that it was not a narcotic. He also said that the yellow bag was not his. He was placed under arrest for drug use, and a blood sample was taken. The reporting officer was Kathy Dillard.

Nov. 19

Criminal Trespass-Property Damage; Battery-Family Violence (First Offense) Misdemeanor; Fleeing or Attempting to Elude; DUI- Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

It was reported that a domestic dispute was in progress and that the offender was fleeing the scene. The offender made attempts to avoid police traveling at speeds of close to 115 miles per hour and driving in the wrong lane. After the vehicle was stopped, he refused to exit at officers’ commands. He was forcibly removed from said vehicle and detained. Emergency medical services were called to the scene. The offender did admit to drinking earlier in the day. He was later taken to jail. The reporting officer was David Cribbs.

Nov. 20

Battery-Family Violence (First Offense) Misdemeanor

A woman stated that her son interjected into an argument she was having with someone over the phone. She then got into an argument with the son. He proceeded to grab her by the hair and throat and leave the house in disarray. It was later discovered that the son had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear. He was found a short time later and placed under arrest. The reporting officer was Justin Hynko.

Suspicious Person
A woman advised that she was forced to swerve off the road to avoid hitting juveniles who were riding their bicycles in and out of traffic. The minors contacted their parents and were informed of the traffic rules. One of their mothers showed up to collect the minors and their bicycles. The reporting officer was Kristopher Withem.

Burglary-Second Degree (Felony)
A man stated that someone had broken into the shed in his back yard and stolen several items. The missing items included two pressure washers, a chain saw and a tool box. The man suspected that his granddaughter was responsible for the theft due to her involvement with drugs in the past. He noted that she had pawned some of her child’s jewelry in the past. The reporting officer was Terry Gideon.

Nov. 21

Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Misdemeanor); Speeding in Excess of Maximum Limits (State Speed and Zone Violations)

A woman was spotted driving around 25 miles over the speed limit on the roadway. A background check revealed that her license was suspended, and she was swiftly detained. She contacted her friend to collect her car. She was later released from custody since her kids were at home and there was no one she could call to watch them. The reporting officer was Terry Gideon.

Dogs, Cats, or Livestock Running At large Prohibited
A woman advised that three canines had been coming onto her property and the property of her mother. She elaborated that one of the dogs had growled at her mother and eaten her cat’s food. The three dogs had also been seen running together in a pack. The woman was hoping that her landlord would be able to handle the situation. The reporting officer was Ramsey Mannon.

False Report of a Crime
A woman stated that an unknown man had entered her vehicle while she was at a gas station. She claimed that he began to ask for directions and proceeded to steal money from the vehicle while
the woman was looking up said directions. The man then began fighting with the woman’s boyfriend while she proceeded to bite his arm and face. The man then left the scene with the money in hand. The boyfriend supported this story but added that the man had offered him marijuana before taking the money. Marijuana was later discovered in the vehicle of the woman. She soon admitted to lying about the robbery. She and her boyfriend were placed under arrest. The reporting officer was Daniel Handshumaker.

Theft by Deception-Felony
A man stated that his grandson’s father stole money out of his bank account that he had deposited for the grandson. The father had claimed that he was buying the child a car. The man also said that the father had stolen his car keys and was refusing to return them. The father returned that keys but insisted that he was the victim. He eventually left the scene in peace. The reporting officer was Loren Richard Scholes.

Failure to Maintain Lane; DUI- Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

A woman was spotted crossing the center line while driving down the roadway. She stated that she was on her way back from a party and was exhausted. It was noted that her vehicle smelled strongly of alcoholic beverages. She admitted to being intoxicated and asked if she could call a friend to pick her up. She also said that this was her second time being arrested for drinking and driving. She later preformed a field sobriety test which confirmed that she was intoxicated. She was swiftly arrested, and her vehicle was collected by a wrecker service. The reporting officer was Deandre Loucks.

Harassing Communications
A woman stated that her ex-boyfriend was threatening to break into her home via text message. He also sent her messages which called her derogatory names and threatened her life. The ex-boyfriend admitted to sending the messages through a third party. He also threatened to go to her house later in the day. The reporting officer was Loren Richard Scholes.

Nov. 22

No Insurance; Possession of Marijuana Less Than One Ounce; Possession and Use of Drug Related Objects; bstructing or Hindering Law Enforcement Officers

A man was seen driving down the road without a working tag light. A background check revealed that his vehicle did not have valid insurance. He claimed that the vehicle belonged to his brother. It was noted that the vehicle smelled strongly of marijuana. While the man’s information wasbeing verified, he tried to dispose of a small bag of marijuana by throwing it on the side of the road. He was caught and placed under arrest. He apologized as the marijuana was being secured. A grinder was also found in the vehicle. A wrecker service went to collect the vehicle. The reporting officer was Deandre Loucks.

Harassing Communications
A woman stated that her ex-husband had been harassing her and her family about a boat that she owns. She advised that the ex-husband had also committed acts of property damage in the past. She noted that the boat was in her name. The ex-husband could not be contacted. The reporting officer was Bobby McCloud.

Animal Complaint
A man advised that his neighbor’s dog was barking constantly. The neighbor stated that it was the man and his wife who were trying to cause problems. It was recommended to the neighbor that he add more pickets to his fence. The reporting officer was Tommy Williams.

Nov. 23

Simple Battery-Family Violence

A man advised that his ex-girlfriend had slapped him twice on the side of the face. He had called her a derogatory name after she stated that she wanted to break up with him. The slapping occurred in
the man’s car as he went to leave. The ex-girlfriend could not be contacted. The reporting officer was Matthew Petrea.

DUI/Alcohol/Under 21 Years of Age/.02 Grams or More

An unknown informant stated that a vehicle had drifted off the road into a ditch. The driver admitted to drinking a beer previously at a friend’s house. She was given a field sobriety test in which she failed all the evaluations. She was swiftly arrested, and her vehicle was towed by a local wrecker service. She later submitted to a test of her breath. The reporting officer was Jason Fondren.

Nov. 24

Theft by Taking-Felony
A woman stated that she had gotten into an argument with her boyfriend after she served him an eviction notice. The boyfriend said that he would leave to scene on foot, but the woman soon discovered him to be leaving in her car. He ran over her cat before driving away. The boyfriend could not be contacted. The reporting officer was Matt Smith.

Speeding in Excess of Maximum Limits (State Speed and Zone Violation); Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Misdemeanor)

A man was spotted driving a tractor trailer down the road at a high rate of speed. A background check revealed that his license was suspended due to child support obligations. He was soon placed under arrest. The reporting officer was Deandre Loucks.

Possession of Methamphetamine; DUI- Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

A man was seen driving a truck erratically down the roadway. He stated that he was trying to put up his food as he was driving. It was noted that he appeared under the influence of drugs due to his jumpy behavior and dilated pupils. He was detained, and a search revealed a pack of methamphetamine inside of his pocket. He admitted to using some of the drug earlier in the day, and he was officially arrested. A sample of his blood was taken, and his truck was released to his wife. The reporting officer was Jason Fondren.

Nov. 25

Wanted Person-Warrant Service; Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Felony); Giving False Name, Address, or Birthdate to Law Enforcement

Two vehicles were spotted traveling at a very slow speed in a subdivision. Both eventually stopped in front of a place of residence, and a man came out and started walking toward them. The man ran back into the house when he saw police, and the two vehicles drove off. The vehicles were later seen in the parking lot of a bank after hours. The first driver stated that he was meeting up with the second driver at the current location, but the second driver claimed that she was following behind the first driver. A background check revealed that the second driver had lied about her personal information, in addition to having several warrants out for her arrest. She was swiftly arrested. The first driver was discovered to be harboring marijuana in his vehicle but was let off with a warning due to helping identify the second driver. The reporting officer was Deandre Loucks.

Theft by Taking-Felony
A woman stated that she woke up in the morning to find that her daughter had stolen her vehicle. She noted that her daughter had recently been released from jail for drug use. She provided a description of the vehicle, and it was soon spotted on the roadway with the daughter behind the wheel. The daughter was arrested, and the woman retrieved the vehicle. The reporting officer was Kristopher Withem.

Domestic Dispute
A woman stated that her daughter’s father assaulted the daughter at his house. The daughter elaborated that her father bumped into her while wiping down his kitchen counters, and she believed that it had been intentional. The woman also advised that the father had cashed one of her checks and was withholding the money. The father could not be contacted. The reporting officer was Max Barber.

DUI-Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
An anonymous source stated that a man was passed out in his vehicle in the parking lot of a gas station. A plie of vomit was present on the ground next to the driver’s side door. It was noted that the man smelled strongly of alcoholic beverages. He was unable to stand on his own, so a field sobriety test
could not be performed. He was arrested, and his vehicle was collected by a towing service. He later submitted to a blood test. The reporting officer was Max Barber.

Theft by Shoplifting-Misdemeanor

A woman stated that a man had come into the store that she worked at and stolen a sweat shirt. She provided the man’s first name but was unsure of his last name. The man could not be located. The reporting officer was Max Barber.


Nov. 26
Possession of Methamphetamine; Possession and Use of Drug Related Objects; Possession of Marijuana Less Than One Ounce

A suspicious man was spotted riding his bicycle outside of a church. He advised that he was simply out riding his bicycle. It was noted that he had a strong smell of marijuana coming from his person. At first, he denied having any illegal substances, but he later admitted to having marijuana on him. He also confused to possessing methamphetamine. He was placed under arrest, and his bicycle was transported to an unknown address. The reporting officer was Deandre Loucks.

DUI-Driving Under the Influence of Drugs; ossession of Marijuana Less Than One Ounce; Possession and Use of Drug Related Objects; Failure to Maintain Lane; Brake Light/Turn Signal Violation

A woman was seen driving down the road with a defective tail light. It was noted that her vehicle had a strong odor of marijuana coming from it. She admitted to having marijuana and smoking it while she was driving. A field sobriety test was conducted, and a blood sample was taken. She failed the test and was placed under arrest. Her mother arrived on scene to collect the vehicle. The reporting officer was Max Barber.

Domestic Dispute
A woman stated that another woman, who was under the influence of alcohol, was recording her while she was feeding her children. The recorder refused to stop video taping the woman. The recorder advised that the woman was swearing at her children, and she wanted to have a record of it for child services. All parties were given a verbal warning. The reporting officer was Daniel Handshumaker.