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Sheriff's Reports
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Jan. 16

Public Drunkenness

An officer responded to the area of Hodgeville Road in Guyton in reference to an unknown person laying in the ditch on the side of the roadway. Upon arrival, the officer observed a white male walking in the middle of the roadway. The officer exited the patrol unit to speak with the subject. The officer observed that the subject was extremely intoxicated, he was unsteady on his feet and was slurring his speech. The subject was confused about his whereabouts and what he was doing. Effingham County E.M.S. arrived on scene but the subject refused treatment. The officer then placed a set of handcuffs on the subject and then he was escorted to the patrol unit. The officer then went and spoke with the complainant who advised that he arrived home and observed the subject passed out in the ditch. As the officer was en route to the jail, the subject became very disorderly in the patrol unit, by kicking the partition. Upon arrival, the subject was turned over to the jail staff. The reporting officer was William West.

 

Jan. 14

Damage to property

An officer responded to 229 Pecan Grove Blvd in Bloomingdale in reference to damaged property. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the complainant/victim who advised that they had a gathering at their residence and his car was parked on the grass along the roadside. The complainant stated that he did not move his car back until the following day and that was the only time he was in it all day. He stated that he drove to work and did not notice any damage originally. He advised that later while heading home someone pointed out to him the damage to the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The complainant had minor damage to the rear passenger side fender, bumper and tail light. The complainant advised that he is not certain when the damage occurred but it had to be between January 14th and January 16th. The reporting officer was Kathy Dillard.

 

Jan. 16

Damage to property

An officer responded to 112 Eagle Drive in Springfield in reference to damaged property. Upon arrival, the officer spoke to the complainant. She advised that her water line busted and it flooded her yard. She also stated that an arrow went through the plastic skirting of her home and struck her water line, causing it to leak. The complainant advised that her neighbor shoots his compound bow in his back yard. The officer then went to 1145 Court House Road to speak with her neighbor. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the neighbor. He advised the officer that he was in the backyard shooting his bow when an arrow slipped off and went to the complainant’s residence. The officer advised him of the property damage that he caused. The reporting officer was William West.

 

Jan. 12

Traffic Violation

An officer was patrolling State Route 21 South near High Point Drive in Springfield, when he observed a white BMW traveling south in the fast lane with a driver side headlight that was not working. The officer initiated a traffic stop on this vehicle. The officer approached the driver side window and informed the driver of the reasoning for stopping him. The driver stated that he was aware and stated that the light bulb was expensive but he was working on getting it fixed. The officer asked the driver for his driver’s license and registration card. The driver provided the officer with an identification card. The officer informed the driver to stay inside his vehicle while status of his license was checked.

Effingham dispatch notified the officer that the driver was coming back with a suspended license for failure to appear with a serve date. The officer went back to the driver side window and informed the driver of his suspensions. The driver was asked to exit the vehicle and was placed under arrest in handcuffs. He was transported to the Effingham County Jail and was issued a citation for driving while license suspended and was given a warning for headlight requirement.

 

Jan. 12

Stalking

An officer spoke with the complainant in the lobby at the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office. The complainant advised that on 1/11/2017 her husband sent his daughter to Freeport Transport in Springfield where she works to deliver her a necklace. The complainant then showed the officer a necklace contained inside of a light blue in color mesh bag with a purple heart shaped pendant that had a message written on it that started with “To my loving wife” April advised that she had a temporary protective order against her husband and showed the officer a Civil Action File which stated that her husband was not to have contact with the complainant directly or indirectly. The complainant also advised that her husband has not directly contacted her but is using their daughter to harass her. The reporting officer was Ashby Zydonyk.

 

Jan. 12

Civil Matter

An officer responded to the Sheriff’s Office lobby in regards to a civil matter. Upon arrival, the officer spoke to the complainant stated she loaned a woman $1300 and she promised to pay her back. The officer observed a letter stating the woman was going to pay back $200 every month until the debt was paid in full. The officer observed the letter to be from 2014 and the checks from 2015. The officer observed 6 checks with the amount of $200 made out to the complainant. The complainant stated that the woman left the state and closed the bank account before she could cash a check. The complainant advised that she heard the woman was back in the state. The complainant stated the last known location the woman was staying at was her father’s house which was the “last house on HWY 119 North on the right, before South Carolina.” The reporting officer was Justin Hynko.

 

Jan. 12

Obstructing Highways, Streets,

Sidewalks, or other Public

 An officer found a green 1997 Toyota Tacoma bearing Georgia plate PDZ5168 parked unoccupied in the northbound turning lane of GA SR 21 N at Arnsdorff Rd. After running the plate and cross referencing the registered owner’s driver’s license information through GCIC, the officer was unable to obtain a phone number for either. As the vehicle was obstructing a lane of travel and the officer was unable to reach the registered owner. The officer called for the next listed wrecker service to remove the vehicle. The reporting officer was Paul Davis.

 

Jan. 12

Obstruction of law enforcement

An officer responded to 116 Pam Circle in reference to removal of an unwanted person. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the complainant. The complainant advised the officer that her son was banging on the front door and he refused to leave. She stated that her son left 15 minutes before the officer arrived. The complainant advised the officer that her son has mental health issues. As the officer was talking to the complainant, he observed a white male walking on the roadway approximately 100 yards from their location. The officer began to walk towards the subject.

Another officer then advised dispatch that he was out with the subject. Both officers began to speak with the complainant’s son about the situation that occurred at his mother’s house. He was hesitant in speaking with the officers and was getting frustrated with the conversation. One of the officers made the decision to detain him after he raised his voice in and began to use profanity. When the officers went to place handcuffs on the subject, he moved toward them in an aggressive manner and started flailing his arms. Both officers grabbed the subject and gave loud and direct verbal commands, the subject continued to fight with them. They then had to take the subject to the ground to take control of him. Once he was on the ground, he continued to resist. After a few seconds, the officers were able to place the subject in handcuffs and was escorted the patrol unit. The subject was then transported to Effingham County jail. The reporting officer was William West.

 

Jan. 13

Theft by Taking

Criminal Trespass

An officer was dispatched to 226 River Oak Dr. in Bloomingdale in reference to theft of a boat. The officer arrived and spoke with the complainant/owner of the boat. She stated that she has been away from home for a month now but her daughter was staying at her house while she was away. She stated that she has now returned but noticed that her 14 foot jon boat she had leaning up against a tree was gone. She asked her daughter if she knew who took it and she had no idea. The officer asked the complainant if she had any idea who would take her boat and if she had any kind of serial/model numbers on it. The complainant stated that she had no idea who would take her boat nor was she able to provide the officer any number on the boat so it could be added into GCIC/NCIC as stolen. The reporting officer was John Reinhart.

 

Jan. 10

Welfare Check

An officer responded to 1685 Dixie Highway South in reference to a missing person. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the complainant who states his wife was put on a bus to go to her parent’s house in Tennessee. She arrived in Atlanta and called the complainant. He says she then disappeared and did not make it to her parent’s house in Tennessee. Nobody has been able to contact her since the last time she called on Tuesday. The reporting officer was Garett Buckles.

 

Jan. 13

Medical Call

An officer responded to 503 Glory Drive in reference in Guyton to a welfare check. Upon arrival, EMS and Fire were already on scene and providing medical assistance to an unconscious patient. The officer was advised that it was a possible overdose of an illicit narcotic, possibly heroin. The witness advised that he was home when a gold truck driven by a man known to him pulled into the driveway. At that time, a man was said to have opened the passenger door to the truck and dragged the patient into the driveway. The man then left the scene before the arrival of Emergency services. At the time, the patient was unconscious and not breathing. Medical responders on scene were able to revive him before transporting him to Effingham County Hospital for further treatment. The responding officer was Travis Smallegan.

 

Jan. 14

Illegal Stop/Stand/Park where prohibited

An officer was dispatched to Low Ground Road near Burnt Tree Way for a vehicle abandoned in the roadway. When the officer arrived, he found the vehicle on the westbound side of the road, parked diagonally and partially in the road and facing East. The vehicle was unlocked but could not find anything that positively identified the owner and a registration check returned Plates Not assigned to the vehicle from the roadway or the storage yard. The reporting officer was Loren Richard Scholes.