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Effingham County Sheriff's Office reports May 16
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May 1

Burglary-First Degree (Felony); Damage to Property

A man stated that he returned to his house to find damage to his shed, garage and workshop. He also noted the nearly 100 hand tools had been stolen. He suspected that his neighbor’s son committed the burglary since marijuana was discovered in the workshop and because the son knew that the man was in the process of moving. The son could not be contacted at the time. The reporting officer was Malcom Foy.

Neighbor Complaint

A couple advised that their neighbor had visited their house and threatened to shoot their dog. The neighbor said that she was angry because the dog was constantly barking and waking up her baby. The neighbor also denied threatening the harm the dog and noted that she does not even own a gun. All parties were advised to avoid contact with each other. The reporting officer was James Ashley Denney.

Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Misdemeanor); Possession of Marijuana; Removing or Affixing License Plate with Intent to Conceal or Hide Illegal Action; DUI-Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

A man was seen impeding traffic in a vehicle that did not have a proper license plate. He claimed that he had just bought the vehicle but could not explain his strange behavior. It was noted that he smelled strongly of burnt marijuana, and three bags of marijuana were later found on his person. He was treated by emergency medical service

May 2

Wanted Person-Warrant Service

A man who was wanted for failure to appear was seen driving down the road. He admitted that he was aware of the situation, and he was swiftly arrested. His friend arrived on the scene to collect his vehicle. The reporting officer was Kristopher Withem.

DUI-Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

A woman was spotted driving down the road in a suspicious way. She claimed that she was lost but later admitted to being under the influence of marijuana. She failed a field sobriety test and was placed under arrest. Her vehicle was handed over to her mother. The reporting officer was Daniel Handshumaker.

Damage to Property

A woman advised that the previous tenant of her rental property had moved out and left the residence in a state of disarray. The master bedroom and two bathrooms had been trashed. The tenant claimed that the woman and said that the woman was trying to change the locks of the house before he could collect all his belongings. The tenant was advised to call in advance before returning. The reporting officer was Caleb Grovenstein.

Domestic Dispute

A man stated that his wife had thrown things at him while they were fighting about their teenage daughter. The fight started after the daughter told her parents that she wanted to live with the man and not the wife. The wife later claimed that the man pushed her to the ground. The man agreed to leave for the night. The reporting officer was Caleb Grovenstein.

Domestic Dispute

A woman stated that she was walking along the side of the road when she lost her balance and injured her neck and back. She was transported to a local hospital where she received treatment. A man on the scene later said that the woman actually sustained the injuries during a fight with her boyfriend. During the fight, the boyfriend had chocked and tackled the woman to the ground. The man also claimed that the woman had previously been drinking. The boyfriend was unable to be located. The reporting officer was Caleb Grovenstein.
May 3

Disorderly Conduct; Battery

A woman stated that she had gotten into an altercation with her daughter’s former roommate when the roommate returned to the apartment to collect some of her belongings. The roommate forced her way inside after the woman told her to come back later, and she proceeded to slam the woman into a wall causing a black eye. The woman’s grandchildren witnessed the entire event. It was noted that the door of the apartment had been damaged from a previous incident. The roommate was unable to be located. The reporting officer was Kristopher Withem.

Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Misdemeanor)

A man was spotted driving down the road without wearing his seatbelt. A background check revealed that his license was suspended due to child support obligations. He was swiftly arrested, and his vehicle was towed by a local wrecker service. The reporting officer was Kristopher Withem.

Financial Transaction Card Fraud

A man advised that someone had applied for a credit card under his name. He was informed of this by his ex-wife who received the credit card in the mail. He was unsure as to who could have committed the fraud. The reporting officer was Kristopher Withem.

Possession of Marijuana Less than One Ounce; Possession of a Schedule I or II Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute

A man was seen driving at a very low rate of speed on the wrong side of the road. It was noted that his vehicle smelled strongly of marijuana, and it was later revealed that a passenger had some on him. The passenger was swiftly arrested, and the man was released from the scene. The reporting officer was Robert Elliott Petitt.

May 4

No Tag; Driving While License Withdrawn

A woman was spotted driving down the road without a proper license plate. She claimed that she was on her way to a title pawn but admitted that her license was suspended due to traffic citations. She was placed under arrest, and her vehicle was towed by a local wrecker service. The reporting officer was James Daniel McKie.

May 5

Fire

A man stated that he accidently left some hot grease on his stove which caused a fire. No one was injured, and the fire was tended to by the local fire department. The reporting officer was Bobby McCloud.

Burglary-First Degree (Felony)

A man stated that while he was being held in jail, his house had been broken into, and multiple items had been taken. The missing items included a tile cutter, ladder, lawn mower, spray painter and power washer. He was unsure as to who could have stolen the items. The reporting officer was Tonya Hodges.

Public Drunkenness

A woman was spotted acting in an erratic manner in the parking lot of a restaurant. A bottle of wine was found in the passenger seat of her vehicle. She was followed to the parking lot of a nearby hotel where she admitted to drinking because she had lost her house. She was placed under arrest after she started to curse at her husband. The reporting officer was Matthew Petrea.

Agency Assist

A man walked into a business that was closing for the day and became very disorderly with the employees. He was arrested after he refused to leave and pushed an officer. The reporting officer was Robert Elliott Petitt.

May 6

Traffic Complaint/Violation; Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Misdemeanor)

A man was seen driving down the road with a suspended license and a cracked windshield. He was swiftly arrested, and his vehicle was released to a licensed driver. The reporting officer was Christopher Cary.