Newspaper Page Text
Page 5 • The OGLETHORPE Echo • Thursday, October 14, 2021
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Sheriff’s report and arrests
Continued from Page Three
Oglethorpe Firefighter needs
community’s help after severe
bums in local house fire
Editor,
James Boss is a local Oglethorpe
County resident who is currently
recovering from severe bums in
Augusta’s Bum Hospital. This
past Sunday, the family’s kitchen
caught fire and he was not able to
get out right away.
James also is a volunteer fire
fighter in the county. Thankfully,
the home was saved but he has
extensive 2nd degree bums on his
face, chest, and right arm and 3rd
degree bums to his left arm, both
legs, and both feet.
He and his wife, Tracy Boss,
are beloved and serve their com
munity. She is a bus driver for the
Oglethorpe County School Dis
continued from Page Four
bored out of my mind. Yes, it was
beautiful up there with the leaves
turning and nothing but nature all
around us. But after ten minutes or
so, it’s boring.
At that moment, mentally, I
turned into a four-year-old. All
I could think was, “I want my
mama. My mama would make this
better. I don’t know how, but she
would. I just want a hug from her.
I want my mama!” It’s funny how
frightening experiences can revert
us to childhood, no matter how old
we are.
After the sun began setting, deer
started appearing. Although it was
neat to see, I was so miserable at
that point that a 24-point monster
buck could have walked out right
below us, and I wouldn’t have
cared.
Two hours after we got there,
Brandon had a shot on a big doe
and killed her at about 170 yards.
I was happy because I knew we
could leave but terrified because I
knew I had to climb down. I had
no clue how I could possibly do
that. What if I slipped? What if he
couldn’t catch me?
trict. The couple also has 4 young
children ranging in ages from 3 to
10 years old.
A GoFundMe has been set up to
help the family cover medical and
other expenses. The GoFundMe
organizer said, “James is going to
face a hard road to recovery and
any help the community can pro
vide, no matter how small, is ap
preciated.
To view the GoFundMe please
visit: https://gf.me/v/c/n8/k4qqqp-
local-family-needs-our-help.
Sincerely,
Claudia Curiel
Regional Spokesperson,
GoFundMe
Once I got on my knees on
the platform, I started bawling. I
gripped Brandon’s hand and his
pants leg like they were a lifeboat.
I sobbed to him that I couldn’t do
it, I didn’t know what to do.
To his credit, he stayed calm
and never rushed me. He just kept
telling me what I needed to do and
tried to constantly reassure me
that he had me and I wasn’t going
to fall. After several minutes of
meltdown, I finally got one foot
on the rung, and then, finally, the
other.
After I got down a few more
rungs and was able to put both of
my hands on the ladder, I was fine.
I felt safe and secure, and I knew
I could make it back down the
ladder.
I had never been so happy to
stand on the ground in my life! I
nearly collapsed when I got to it.
I promptly informed Brandon that
I would never, ever do that again.
And I’m proud to say, around 15
years later, that I have firmly kept
that promise!
other two subjects also denied any
drugs or weapons.
In the center console, Sgt.
Brooks found a purple scale with
a crystal-like substance all over
the top. He located in Ms. War
den’s purse a short straw with a
white substance and a piece of
foil containing a burnt substance
along with a torch. There was also
a pill bottle with Warden’s name
on it for Hydrocodone. There was
one Hydrocodone inside with two
Modafinil, 100 mg, a Schedule 4
drug identified through |drugs.com]
The residue on the scale tested pos
itive for methamphetamines.
When the scale was locat
ed, O’Bryant uttered it was his.
O’Bryant was charged with de
fective equipment, possession of
methamphetamines, drug related
objects, and two outstanding war
rants out of Oglethorpe County.
Ms. Warden was placed under
arrest for drug-related objects, pos
session of a Schedule 4 drug and
pill not in original container.
The third subject was released
from the scene. The vehicle was
towed.
All evidence was placed into an
evidence locker; Ms. Warden and
Mr. O’Bryant were transported to
the Oglethorpe County Jail.
Unlicensed driv
er also charged
with DUI on Oc
tober 9
Sgt. Andrew Brooks was trav
eling west on GA-10 near Fong
Creek at 5:53 pm on October 9
and noticed a blue Dodge Charger
in front of him with its brake light
staying on. The driver would slow
down, speed up, and was occasion
ally weaving between the lanes.
This behavior continued until the
officer pulled him over in front of
the high school.
The driver, identified as Vi
cente Ponce Garcia, spoke very
little English. While speaking with
the subject, Sgt. Brooks smelled a
strong odor of an alcoholic bever
age coming from his breath. Garcia
had slurred speech and blood shot,
watery eyes and admitted to drink
ing a Modelo before leaving work.
Sgt. Brooks had the subject exit
the car and located three cold un
opened Modelo’s in the back seat.
A translator was unavailable, but
the subject was able to tell the offi
cer that he had a previous DUI and
was unlicensed. Garcia consented
to a portable breath test and tested
positive for alcohol at .124.
Mr. Garcia was placed under
arrest. Deputy Wiles read to the
subject Georgia Implied Consent
21 and over designating a blood
test. Garcia refused the test and
was transported to the Oglethorpe
County Jail where he was charged
with DUI and driving unlicensed.
The vehicle was towed.
Unlicensed driver
arrested for tail and
brake light; owner
cited for letting
unlicensed driver
operate vehicle
On October 8 at 9:52 pm, Sgt.
Andrew Brooks made a traffic
stop on a Chevy Prizm on Smokey
Road at Smokey Ridge in reference
to a broken taillight and a brake
light being out. The driver, Shakira
Howard, stated she was unlicensed
and just going to a friend’s house.
It was confirmed through GCIC
she was indeed not licensed.
Ms. Howard was told several
times to exit the car by Brooks and
Sgt. Tapley. She refused and rolled
up her window, locking the door.
After several minutes passed, she
opened the door and was placed
under arrest for defective equip
ment and driving unlicensed. The
vehicle was towed.
The vehicle’s owner arrived on
scene and admitted giving permis
sion for her daughter to drive the
car but only in Athens. She was is
sued a citation for allowing an un
licensed driver to drive her vehicle.
The owner was also unlicensed but
had several other subjects bring
her to the scene. Two of the four
reeked of marijuana but denied
having any. One also had an odor
of an alcoholic beverage coming
from his breath. Sgt. Brooks stuck
his head in the vehicle’s window
that was down and the vehicle also
had an odor of marijuana. The of
ficer advised all subjects that mari
juana was illegal.
Ms. Howard was transported to
Oglethorpe County Jail.
Two arrested after
traffic stop, both
charged with
pot possession
On October 9 at 5:45 pm, Cpl.
Allan Krish and Deputy A. J. Wiles
were patrolling the area of Athens
Road and Wheeler Circle, Craw
ford, when an older model blue
Ford Contour passed their location.
Cpl. Krish noted a non-working
right brake light and decided to fol
low the vehicle. Prior to making
the stop Krish, noted the right rear
light was partially illuminated but
not as properly as the left light. The
vehicle’s driver suddenly made a
right turn off Athens Road in the
Church of Christ parking lot which
continues through to Old Fexing-
ton Road.
With emergency lights activat
ed, it did not appear the driver was
attempting to stop and continued
on through the parking lot coming
to a stop prior to entering Old Fex-
ington Road. As the vehicle was
coming to a stop and Cpl. Krish
closed the distance on the vehicle,
the driver and passenger could be
seen moving around and the pas
senger leaning forward as if plac
ing something under his seat.
Cpl. Krish approached as con
tact deputy and Wiles approached
as overwatch. Wiles observed the
passenger light up a cigarette; the
driver was also smoking what was
later revealed as a vape pipe. Krish
ordered both occupants to put out
the cigarettes. Krish addressed the
driver and informed him of the de
fective right rear brake light. Krish
was immediately met with hostil
ity by the driver, later identified
as Darius Coile, who accused the
officer of “always harassing them.”
Krish retrieved identification from
both subjects and returned to the
police vehicle giving the IDs to
Deputy Wiles to provide informa
tion to dispatch.
Upon returning to the Contour,
Wiles heard Cpl. Krish ask the
driver where the “weed” was and
instructed both suspects of the
odor of marijuana. Krish ordered
both subjects out of the vehicle and
Coile initiated his legal lesson with
Cpl. Krish telling him he could not
search the vehicle because it be
longed to his grandfather stating,
“You don’t have a warrant, you
can’t search.” Cpl. Krish again or
dered both subjects out of the ve
hicle and they complied.
Deputy Wiles took control of
the passenger, Altantrece Bashund
Flint, who was cooperative. Sus
pect Coile started to get mouthy
with Cpl. Krish and was argumen
tative. Krish detained Coile hand
cuffing him pending further inves
tigation.
While Deputy Wiles maintained
control of the subjects, Cpl. Krish
searched vehicle’s interior. Under
the front passenger seat, Krish lo
cated a black unloaded 9 mm pis
tol that was checked by dispatch
revealing no record. Also located
was a small plastic baggie contain
ing a green leafy substance resem
bling marijuana. After the vehicle
was searched, the marijuana was
secured in the police vehicle and
the handgun returned to the Con
tour’s glove compartment per re
quest of the occupants.
Neither Flint nor Coile stated
at first the marijuana was theirs. It
was later discovered that Flint did
state it was his after both subjects
were placed under arrest for mari
juana possession under an ounce.
The Contour was towed and both
suspects transported to the jail
without incident.
At the jail, suspect Flint con
tinued to cooperate with deputies
and jail staff. Suspect Coile began
to argue again with Cpl. Krish an
Deputy Wiles saw Coile jerk away
from the officer. Krish was able to
regain control of Coile without in
cident and secured by jail staff.
Deputy Wiles issued Mr. Coile
two citations — possession of mari
juana less than one ounce and de
fective vehicle equipment. Mr.
Flint was issued a citation for pos
session of marijuana less than one
ounce.
House fire reported on
Hargrove Lake Road,
Crawford, October 9
Sgt. Joe Tapley was dispatched
to Hargrove Fake Road, Craw
ford, at 7:03 pm on October 9.
When he arrived the upstairs floor
was fully engulfed. Devils Pond,
Amoldsville, Crawford, and Bea-
verdam Fire Departments were on
scene along with the EMS.
Once the fire was out. Red Cross
was called. Red Cross said they
would contact the family and
Board It was on scene by the time
cleanup was done.
Kristie Beatty was the homeown
er and Fatasha Gresham lived in
the home. Both parties were given
a card with a case number.
The fire’s cause was unknown at
the time of incident report.
Arrests
Melvin Fee Bryant, Sr., Fair
ground Road, Fexington, was ar
rested October 8 charged with ag
gravated assault; exploit / inflect
pain to / deprive essential services
to disabled person, elder person;
obstructing or hindering persons
making emergency telephone call;
and simple battery against person
who is 65 years or older.
Sarah Rebecca Bumworth,
Ridge Place, Winterville, was ar
rested October 5 charged with
possession and use of drug-related
objects and possession of metham-
phetamine.
Gail Ann Cobbins, Athens
Road, Fexington, was arrested Oc
tober 3 charged with public drunk
enness.
Darius Caden Coile, Stephens
Grove Church, Fexington, was ar
rested October 9 charged with de
fective equipment and marijuana
- possess less than 1 oz.
Dwayne Curtis Fanning, Fex
ington Road, Washington, was
arrested October 8 charged with
expired or no registration or title,
marijuana - possess less than 1
oz., no insurance, remove or affix
plate to conceal vehicle ID, driv
ing while license suspended or re
voked (misdemeanor), and turning
position signals required.
Altantrece Bashund Flint,
Smokey Trail, Crawford, was ar
rested October 9 charged with mar
ijuana - possess less than 1 oz.
Vincete Ponce Garcia, Grove
Park Drive, Columbus, Georgia,
was arrested October 8 charged
with defective equipment, driving
without a valid license (misde
meanor), and DUI - driving under
the influence of alcohol.
Alvin Junior Hagan, Eddie
Street, Claxton, Georgia, was ar
rested October 4 charged with fail
ure to appear.
Christopher Shawn Hartman,
Ridge Place, Winterville, was ar
rested October 5 charged with
maintaining a disorderly house,
possession and use of drug-related
objects, and possession of metham-
phetamine.
Shakira Tyan Howard, Big Oak
Circle, Athens, was arrested Octo
ber 8 charged with defective equip
ment and driving without license
(unlicensed / wrong CF).
Mark Shelton Foving, Sandy
Cross Road, Carlton, was arrested
October 5 charged with willful ob
struction of law enforcement offi
cers - misdemeanor; trafficking in
cocaine, illegal drugs, marijuana,
or methamphetamine; and posses
sion of tools for commission of a
crime.
Alexandria Renee Malone, Bar-
nem Avenue, Bridgecort, CT, was
arrested October 7 charged with
probation violation.
John Richard Manders, III, Hog
Mountain Road, Statham, was ar
rested October 4 charged with pro
bation violation.
Terrell Meadows, Terrace Fane,
Fexington, was arrested October 4
charged with willful obstmction of
law enforcement officers by use of
threats or violence.
Alan Garrison O’Bryant, Shady
Glade Place, Winterville, was ar
rested October 8 charged with two
counts of driving without a valid
license (misdemeanor), expired or
no driver’s license, expired or no
registration or title, remove or af
fix plate to conceal vehicle ID, fail
ure to yield to emergency vehicle,
driving while license suspended
or revoked (misdemeanor), two
counts of failure to appear - mis
demeanor, defective equipment,
possession and use of drug-related
objects, and possession of metham
phetamine.
Frank Fouis Ovinnio, 3 rd , Ridge
Place, Winterville, was arrested
October 9 charged with probation
violation.
Monica Delaler Price, Gay
Drive, Augusta, was arrested Octo
ber 7 charged with failure to appear
- misdemeanor.
Dremeca Reid, Reese Booker
Ave., Washington, was arrested
October 7 charged with driv
ing while license withdrawn and
speeding.
Rodney Eugene Shelnutt, Fau-
rel Fane, Stephens, was arrested
October 8 charged with failure to
drive within single lane and DUI -
driving under the influence of mul
tiple substances.
Deirdre Mechelle Smith, Ash
Street, Woodville, was arrested
October 3 charged with purchase,
possession, manufacture, distribu
tion or sale of marijuana and ex
pired vehicle tag or decal.
Jonathan Michael Stone, West
Main Street, Fexington, was arrest
ed October 5 charged with simple
assault - family violence.
Amber Renee Tatom, Ridge
Place, Winterville, was arrested
October 5 charged with possession
and use of drug related objects and
possession of methamphetamine.
Tramaiz Taylor, W Main Street,
Irwinton, Georgia, was arrested
October 5 charged with Agency
Assist.
Kirby Elizabeth Warden, Pittard
Road, Winterville, was arrested
October 8 charged with drugs not
in original container - misde
meanor, possession of a Schedule
IV controlled substance, and pos
session and use of drug-related ob
jects.
Kirsten Wilcox, Skinnermill
Road, Augusta, was arrested Oc
tober 5 charged with driving while
license suspended or revoked (mis
demeanor).
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Oglethorpe County Rainfall Reporting Network
Name (CoCoRaHS Number) Focation
Oct 4-11
Pat Kelly (OG-2)
Palmetto
4.49
Danny Morcom (OG-5)
Amoldsville
7.34
Paul Webb (OG-10)
Fexington
5.01
Wayne Hughes (OG-12)
Wolfskin
6.96
Gwen Hirsch (OG-15)
Smithonia
6.60
Michael Moody (OG-21)
Glade
6.59
Kathrine Clark (OG-29)
Fexington
4.90
Oglethorpe County average rainfall for the week: 5.98 inches.
Athens rainfall for the week: 5.27 inches (typical weekly 0.92).
Measurements reported 7am Monday.
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