A manager and three servers at the Evans IHOP have been arrested for cooking up a scheme to get more tips without hurting customers, according to authorities.

Their arrests are one of several stories in this week’s edition of The Jail Report, in stores now. (Cover image: http://thejailreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Cover-Issue-6371.jpg)

In the IHOP case, manager Shellie Damron (top left) and servers Watkins Hightower (top right), Lawrence Dingwall Jr. (bottom left) and Crenisha Mack (bottom right) were each charged last Monday with computer forgery and theft by conversion.

Investigators say the scheme went like this:
A customer paid for the meal and left whatever tip they wanted on a credit or debit card. Later, the suspects went onto the IHOP register and cancelled a specific food order from that paid check, moving that amount to the tip category. That netted them more money in the end.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Ken Summers said the loss to the restaurant tops $10,000 and could be as much as $80,000.

The employees were apparently caught when they got greedy and started adding higher amounts. In addition, other employees got wind of the scam and that led someone to notify the sheriff’s office.

“It had been going on for a number of months, but it had escalated to the point that things were more obvious and were easier to track,” Sgt. Summers said. “And you get more workers involved and other employees became concerned and brought it to management attention.”

Investigators looked at the law and felt the computer forgery and conversion offenses were the appropriate charges.

For more local crime stories from the CSRA, pick up this week’s edition of The Jail Report.

Three family members of slain Aiken Officer Scotty Richardson spoke in court Feb. 2 before cop killer Stephon Carter was given a life sentence plus thirty years in the killing of Richardson and shooting of Officer Travis Griffin.

Below are the full statements they read in court as Carter prepared to be sentenced in the 2011 murder.

(Photo shows brother Ken Richardson (from left), cousin Gerry Owen, mother Patsy Richardson and wife Amelyn Richardson.)

“Me and my children are living a life sentence of heart break and emptiness.”

Statement by Amelyn Richardson, wife of Officer Scotty Richardson: 

“People called him a hero. A police officer killed in the line of duty. People connect him with the tragedy that shook a whole town.  I called him my best friend, my husband, and the father of our three beautiful boys Zander, Chase, and Maddox.

Scott and I met on January 2nd, 2002 in Tampa, Florida, after the Outback Bowl. You see he was a huge Gamecock fan and watching his favorite team win brought joy and pride in being a Carolina fan. Who would have thought that he would meet his future wife after Carolina beat Ohio State? I knew when we first met that there was something special about him.

He was so polite, a perfect southern gentleman, something you don’t see often in a city in Florida. We were inseparable after that night, he became my best friend. We dated for a few years, living eight hours apart. Despite that distance, we talked on the phone every single day. After two years, I managed to talk him into leaving his home town and everything he knew and loved to be with me in Florida.  Scott in Florida didn’t last long, though. After a few months and a few horrible hurricanes, we decided to move to South Carolina.

Scott wanted to be home. Aiken was where he belonged. He got a job with the Aiken Department of Public Safety. It was the career he had always wanted. He was proud to be in law enforcement. In public safety part of his duties included being a fireman. He really enjoyed that aspect of his job. Everyone I have met in Aiken has said nothing but good things about him. Even people that he had pulled over during a routine traffic stop and written tickets for said he was a nice guy. How often do you hear that about police officers? I worried about him and how dangerous his job was, but I always thought, “Thank goodness he is in Aiken, a safe place to be.” I think about it now and how naive I was. I didn’t really think anything would or could ever happen to him. You see, Scott never ever talked about his job. Never brought it home. He would drive home to Columbia after a long shift and once home, ask about my day and I remember I would just go on and on about my crazy day, which in no way compared to his. But, Scott always sat there and listened to me. He was so selfless and so thoughtful of my feelings. He didn’t want me to worry about him.

Scott was also a compassionate person willing to help people no matter who they were. We had this elderly neighbor who lived across the street from us. She lived all alone and really took a liking to Scott. Whatever she needed he was there for her, whether it is grabbing something in her pantry that is out of reach, or just being someone for her to sit and talk with. It was never a chore or out of his way to help her out. He would also take time to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Helping out in his community was very important to him. Also important to Scott were his friends. When a fellow officer who was also a marine, was deployed to Afghanistan, he reassured his friend that his family would be taken care of while away serving our country. Scott would stop by the house to make sure that his wife, a close friend of ours, and dog were okay and that he was there if she needed anything. When Scott found out that his friend was coming home, he and other friends wanted to make sure that their buddy received a hero’s welcome. They had pulled together and worked really hard to ensure that their friend’s yard was cut and cleaned and that his truck was in pristine condition. His friend’s wife was very grateful that Scott had watched over her. It will be something she will always remember.

Everyone called Scott a hero, because he made the ultimate sacrifice. He was a hero for sure and the biggest one to his kids. Scott loved his boys more than anything and they adored their daddy. I had asked my oldest son Zander, who was only five at the time of his dad’s death, what made his daddy a hero. He said “daddy saved me from choking on a Dorito.” It must have meant a great deal to him because this is something that Zander will always remember about his dad.

With our conflicting work schedules, Scott was the parent to be home more often with the boys. He was the one to help the boys with their homework and to tuck them into bed at night. He spent quality time with the boys by taking them to the park, the zoo, and the river. It was a sight to see him with the boys. He would have the baby wrapped in a carrier around his body, another pushed in a stroller with one hand, while the other hand was holding the other child with a tight grip. He was a hands on dad, from feeding the boys, usually a Chick-fil-a, to cleaning after them and even being their personal barber.

I came home one night and found Scott laying on the couch with Maddox, our baby, on his chest and he had this smirk on his face. He had decided that the boys needed haircuts and gave them all a buzz cut. Not a favorite of mine, but I was okay with it after awhile, because the boys really loved it. It was the coolest thing to look like their daddy. The boys wanted to be just like him too.

Scott was an avid football fan, determined that his sons would grow up to play for the Gamecocks. He looked forward to when the boys were old enough to play for the Gamecocks. He looked forward to when the boys were old enough to play sports. Our boy’s play sports now and it is very difficult for me at times to watch dad’s on the sidelines cheering on their children. It is not fair that my children don’t have their dad here to watch.  The worst part of this whole situation is that my children will never get the chance to know their father. He will not be here for when his sons will need their father the most. He will not see his sons turn into men. He will not be here to see his sons’ graduate, get married, and have children of their own. Scott was robbed of all these life opportunities. His boys were robbed of their life experiences with their father.

As for me, his wife, memories are all I have left of my husband. They were great memories. Scott was my soulmate. Right from the beginning we just seemed to click. He was a wonderful husband. I remember the very last time that I saw him alive I was getting ready to leave work around noon. He was outside changing our carport light because I wasn’t going to get home until after midnight. On my way out I told him that I loved him and gave him a kiss goodbye. I didn’t know that it would be our last one. Every day I wish I could turn back time and go back to that afternoon. But that is just a fantasy.

My reality is that me and my children are living a life sentence of heart break and emptiness. I am living with heartache, sadness, loneliness, and tears. It is very difficult to go to bed at night and get up in the morning to face my day. Sometimes I just want to hide away from the world. That is not who I was when Scott was alive. I used to look forward to each day. I can’t be outside the house without some anxiety and fear that something may happen to my family. This is not how I imagined my life would be. By this time I had pictured our family living in Aiken with Scott moving up the ranks at work, me working somewhere where I could come home and see my boys every day and be able to tuck them into bed every night.

Till this day, I can’t even think about Scott without falling apart. I think about our life together and how perfect it was. Sure we had our ups and downs but they were ours. Even after being together for as long as we were, I remember my heart would still flutter at the sight of him. We didn’t see each other as much as we wanted but I remember our last day off together, we were able to spend it together alone, thanks to our loving parents. It was just right before Christmas and we were shopping for the kids. Scott had worked extra shifts so that our boys would have a decent Christmas. It breaks my heart that he didn’t get to be here with us.

The next Christmas was extremely difficult. We were decorating our tree and when we were hanging our stockings I wasn’t sure what to do with Scott’s because I didn’t know how the kids would react. I remember looking at my sister for answers but it was my son, Chase, who told me to hang his dad’s because daddy was still a part of our family. Our children are so strong and Scott would have been so proud of them.

My life has definitely been impacted through this ordeal. In the early morning of, December 21, 2011, I became a widow, a single parent, having to raise a one year old, four year old, and five year old all by myself. I did not deserve this. Our boys did not deserve this. Scott did not deserve this.

Scott was only 33 years old with so much more life ahead of him. He had hopes and dreams. He was needed by his family. He was needed by his friends. He was needed by his community. He did not deserve to die the way he did.

“Stephon, you will never know what you did to our family when you took Scott from us.”

Statement by Patsy Richardson, mother of Officer Scotty Richardson:

Scott was more than my son, a brother, husband, father, friend, police officer, firefighter, he was a miracle. On the day of his arrival, the doctor said if it had been 12 more minutes, neither he nor I would have survived. So on August 14, 1978, my miracle baby was born. He was seven pounds, 14 ounces, 20 1/2 inches long, and had blue eyes and brown hair. Oh, how he already seemed to be the wonderful man he grew up to be in such a little body, only to be taken away in seconds.

The person who took him away from us will never know how wonderful Scott was and if you had only been respectful to him as he represented the City of Aiken Public Safety Department. If you had only given him the chance to talk to you, to help you figure out what was wrong in your life, he would have. What could possibly lead you to do this, but you chose the wrong path, by shooting my son. You will never know how many people that deadly night has affected and will still affect in the years to come as his family grows.

Scott was a very quiet, loving person who would do anything for anyone that he knew. Scott grew up being picked on by friends and some family because he was a chunky little boy and did not like for anybody to mess with his hair. He persevered over these obstacles. He started playing football as an elementary student and continued until he graduated high school. He then went on to USC-A where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology.

He was your typical young man. He liked to drive fast. His driver’s license was even down to having just one point left. So he had to man up and start paying for his own vehicle insurance. I don’t think our family friend knew about that when she let him drive her T-bird for his prom when he asked her.

Scott married the love of his life in 2005, Amelyn. He was a loving husband to Amelyn as she was equally a loving wife to Scott. They have three wonderful boys. His boys knew that their daddy loved them very much. Before he walked out to go to work, he would tell his boys, “give daddy a kiss” and they in turn would say, “you going to get the bad guys tonight” and he would say, “yes”.

Well on December 20, 2011, the bad guy got their daddy and his kisses to his boys came to a dead stop. On December 21, 2011, came the daunting task that no mother ever wants to say to her children. She had to tell her young boys, four and three years old and 10 months old, that their daddy would not be coming home because the bad guy killed their Daddy. Although they were very young, they knew what their mother meant when she told them that their daddy had gone to heaven to be with Jesus and the Angels. No one will ever know what their mother had to go through when seeing the look on their faces.

Scott was a hands-on daddy. He spent his time with his boys when not working and loved playing with them. The boys miss their daddy very much. They have even commented, “I wish my daddy was here”. Yet at such a young age, they have to accept the fact that their daddy will never be home again. What an injustice you have done to his three young children, his family and his friends.

Stephon, you will never know what you did to our family when you took Scott from us. Our family will never be the same again.

 ”We continue to expect to wake up from this nightmare.”

Statement by Ken Richardson, brother of Officer Scotty Richardson:

On December 20, 2011, my world was turned upside down. I received the phone call that I thought I would never receive. I was told that my brother had been shot. On December 21, 2011, in the early morning hours, my brother died from the gunshot wound to the head.

Scotty was the best brother. He would do anything for me and for that matter anybody else that asked.

I never will understand why Scott wanted to be a police officer because I knew of the dangers involved, but that never swayed Scott away from the passion of being in public safety and helping our community. If you had only given him a chance to do his job, we would not be here in this courtroom, Scott would still be serving as police officer and he would have helped you. But you chose to do the unthinkable. You shot my brother and for that my life will forever be changed.

Scott was married to Amelyn and has three wonderful boys who will grow up without their father. He was the best dad, always involved in everything they did. I can’t imagine what life would be like without my dad, much less three young boys. I know they miss their daddy very much.

Uncle Scotty, as he was to my children, is missed by them so much. They miss having him come by to visit and play with them.

I, as many others, still cannot fathom that Scott is no longer with us. We continue to expect to wake up from this nightmare.

If only I had known that on December 20, 2011, he was going to work his last shift, drive the police car for the last time, love on his boys before he went to work, and then take his last breath on December 21, 2011, I wonder what I might would have said to him differently. I miss my brother and not a day goes by that I relive that dreadful night, the memories we made and what we would be doing now. But that is something I will never know because, you Stephon, took him away from me.

 ”At least, this murderer will never have an opportunity to terrorize the streets of Aiken again.”

Family Statement, presented during press conference after sentencing. Read by Gerry Owen, cousin of Officer Scotty Richardson:

Since December 21, 2011, the Richardson family has been living a nightmare that felt like it would never end. As we leave the courthouse today, we have a sense of relief and closure for which we have been longing. As you can imagine, there is some disappointment that Scotty’s murderer won’t receive the death penalty for his actions; however, we are at peace with the life sentence without parole. At least, this murderer will never have an opportunity to terrorize the streets of Aiken again.

We would like to thank Solicitor Thurmond, Deputy Solicitor Weeks, Deputy Solicitor Miller, the investigators and anyone else that worked countless hours to make sure justice was served. Additionally, we would like to thank our Victims Advocate, Angela. She was a wonderful resource and did her job in a very compassionate manner.

Lastly, we can’t forget the members of Aiken Public Safety, Scotty’s other family. From Chief Frommer to Chief Barranco to the men and women that put on the uniform every day to protect our City, we could not have made it through these last three plus years without you. We will never forget the many acts of kindness you have shown our family. You are part of the Richardson family!!

We know there is nothing that will bring Scotty back, but through his three wonderful boys, we can see a little bit of Scotty every day. Please continue to remember Amelyn in your daily prayers for the strength she needs to raise the boys.

Finally, we ask the press to respect our privacy and not request any interviews. We do not wish to reopen this wound.

God Bless,

The Richardson Family

Who is the man in this sketch?

Aiken Police say he is the man who robbed some victims on the morning of Feb. 3 at Verandas on the Green apartment complex. The individual approached the victim as she was going to her vehicle.

“The suspect drew a knife, and demanded money,” according to a press release. “The suspect received an undisclosed amount of money, and fled the area. A search of the area was unsuccessful in locating the suspect.

Anyone with information related to the identity of the individual involved is asked to contact CrimeStoppers of the Midlands at 888-CRIME-SC (888-274-6372). Individuals will remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

A young mother in Martinez has been arrested for child cruelty after her 7-year-old son showed up at an elementary school in Columbia County this week with bruises.

Ashley Benton-Harold, 23, was charged Tuesday with cruelty to children – causing excessive physical or mental pain.

According to a Columbia County sheriff’s report, the boy’s teacher noticed a mark on his face once he came to class Tuesday. The child was taken to school nurse Sheila Weathersbee, who observed multiple bruises on the child.

The school notified the Department of Family and Children Services as well as the sheriff’s office. Investigators went to the boy’s home, where his mother was interviewed and arrested.

The mother told authorities that she had struck her child with a belt for misbehaving, sheriff’s Major Rick Whitaker said.

These two females were observed on Jan. 20 shoplifting cell phones from Target on Washington Road in Evans, according to authorities.

Help stop their thieving ways. If you recognize them, please call the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at 706-541-2800.

This suspect took TV and other electronics from Walmart in Martinez, according to authorities.

Recognize him? Please call the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at 706-541-2800.

Remember: Thieves like this only cost the rest of us money since stores have to charge enough to make up for the loss.

What happens when you let a serial flasher off with a few days in jail and a bunch of probation? He moves on to his next sex crime, according to Grovetown Public Safety.

Chad Stefani, 26, of Broad Oak Road, Grovetown (pictured), surrendered around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday after being named as the suspect who offered a Grovetown mother $200 an hour to spend time alone with her young daughters.  The suspect said he was thinking about having some kids, according to authorities.

Police Chief Gary Jones said his agency obtained three felony arrest warrants for Stefani for criminal intent child molestation.

Stefani was convicted in a series of 2013 flashing incidents in Richmond and Columbia counties in Georgia as well as Edgefield County in South Carolina. Only Richmond County got jail time for the crime: 44 days. (He ended up serving only 13 days from Dec. 13-Dec. 26, 2014.)

Online records show probation and community service in the other two counties.

In one case, Stefani exposed himself to two strangers in the T-Mobile parking lot on Wheeler Road in Augusta. In the Columbia County case, Stefani drove up along a woman on I-20 while they were passing the Welcome Center, raised himself up, exposed his penis and began stroking himself. The woman got Stefani’s tag number and reported it.

In Edgefield County, a Merriwether woman at the Greg’s Gas plus on Martintown Road reported Stefani exposed himself to her in April 2013 while she was in the parking lot. She called 911 and followed Stefani from the store for several miles through Merriwether before he entered I-20 and headed back into Georgia.

As part of the terms for his probation in Richmond County, a judge said he “must take a psycho sexual evaluation and treatment if directed.”

A Warrenville man was has been charged with shooting his 5-year-old niece with a BB gun as punishment, authorities said.

It’s one of the stories in this week’s edition of The Jail Report. (Cover image: http://thejailreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Cover-Issue-638.jpg)

In the Warrenville case, 33-year-old Thomas Harris was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child, according to an Aiken County Sheriff’s report.

The child’s injuries were discovered earlier this month at her school when a teacher at her elementary school noticed she was having trouble fastening her belt. The teacher went to help and noticed a number of small red marks on the young girl’s stomach, the report said.

The child explained that her “Uncle Tommy” shot her with a BB gun as a punishment for upsetting him. The child was taken to the school nurse who checked the injuries. The child also told her that she was shot by her uncle, the report said.

In other news featured by The Jail Report:

* An Aiken DUI suspect gets arrested on her way to Fifty Shades of Grey movie.

* A Grovetown teen beats up his father when asked to do chores

* Sheriff Roundtree explains the proper way for deputies to help your undisciplined kids

* Chop Shop is Closed After Raid in Richmond County

* Martinez Suspect Handcuffs Himself Before Deputies Arrive

Pick up your copy today at a local convenience store for $1.00.

A stabbing in the Augusta Mall Food Court was not random violence or a mugging, but an incident between three acquaintances, including an apparent victim who disappeared, authorities said.

Sheriff’s Lt. Allan Rollins says two brothers and a third acquaintance got into an argument in the Food Court Wednesday afternoon, leading to a physical fight.

Witnesses reported seeing someone stab the other in the back, but no victim has been identified. And one of the brothers was found with a knife, but he had a wound to his own hand, Lt. Rollins said.

Only the two brothers have been located and taken into custody. Misdemeanor charges are expected, but Lt. Rollins said their names would not be released until Thursday.

Authorities are checking area hospitals for any sign of the victim, but no one has shown up.

Lt. Rollins emphasized the incident was “not random violence.”

“It was not a mugging in the lobby or in the food court or in the bathrooms. This just appears to be three people who knew each other” that got into an altercation, he said.

Portions of the Food Court were closed for a short time for an investigation and to clean up a small amount of blood, Lt. Rollins said. And media were escorted off the mall property because of the mall policy.

Got video or pictures of the fight? Email them to jailreport@gmail.com . We pay.

A Surrey Center businessman faces three sex charges after he struck up a relationship with a 15-year-old Evans boy and made a secret delivery of sex toys to the boy at a Jones Creek Golf Club restroom, authorities say.

Randy Mercer, 57, of Augusta, was charged Friday with aggravated child molestation, child pornography and enticing a child for indecent purposes.

According to a Columbia County sheriff’s report, the boy’s mother reported in January that her teenage son had developed a relationship with an adult male over the Internet. She said Mercer had asked her son to send him inappropriate pictures.

The mother said her son made it clear he was 15 years old to Mercer during their online relationship, which was generated on grindr.com, the sheriff’s report says. According to the Internet, Grindr is the largest and most popular all-male location-based social network out there.

According to the boy’s mother, Mercer asked if he could come to the juvenile’s home to give him a package. “The juvenile denied the request but told Randy he can drop it off in the bathroom of the 13th green at the Jones Creek golf course,” the report said.

The package was delivered around November, but the teen ended the relationship after retrieving the package.

The mother later found the duffle bag inside her son’s room. “Contents of the bag include various sex toys, dildos and male under garments,” the sheriff’s report says.

During an investigation, officers discovered that Mercer actually met the boy three times in Evans for the purposes of having sex, according to a warrant.

Mercer, of Downing Street, Augusta, owns Peach Augusta, a woman’s apparel store at Surrey Center. A recent Augusta magazine story on the business owner shows him wearing a woman’s skirt and talking about his 30-year career as a makeup artist and celebrity stylist. A YouTube video states that he has a client base that includes Glenn Close, Brad Pitt and Sarah Jessica Parker.

For now, Mercer remains in the Columbia County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.

North Augusta police arrested three young men for spray-painting cars and causing $10,000 in damages over the weekend.

According to police, starting late this past Saturday night and running through mid-Sunday morning, Public Safety accumulated reports of spray painted vandalism to eight random vehicles throughout the city.  The investigation that followed led patrol officers and detectives with North Augusta to the description of the suspect vehicle and later to the identity of those involved.

Public Safety has positively identified three 17-year old young men from North Augusta; Jerry Bennett, Austin Lavigne and Frank Zander in connection to the vandalisms.  All three were arrested and charged with one count of Malicious Injury to Personal Property each.

The estimated total of the damage done to the vehicles stands at nearly $10,000.

If you think home security systems are a waste of money, this Warrenville burglary story should change your mind.

A security company alerted a Warrenville homeowner on Tuesday afternoon about an intrusion alarm at his home on the 2100 block of Pine Log Road, and the resident called 911. Responding deputies saw three burglars running from the Aiken County home.

(For more crime news from the Augusta-Aiken area, check out this week’s new issue of The Jail Report. Cover image: http://thejailreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Cover-Issue-639.jpg)

In the burglary case, they suspects didn’t make it easy, but deputies captured them. They are identified as: Jeremy Ray Kelley, 37, of Augusta, (pictured from left), Christopher Gregory Redd, 44, and Raymond Lamar Brookins, 42.

According to a press release, two of the males fled the scene in a white Dodge Truck and the third suspect ran towards the wood line. Deputies pursued the vehicle from the burglary scene.

“After a short pursuit, the vehicle stopped at Hillman and SC Hwy 421 where one of the suspects fled on foot, running across the highway,” sheriff’s Capt. Eric Abdullah said in a press release. “The vehicle pursuit continued when the passenger took control of the vehicle continuing to flee.”

The fleeing vehicle was stopped on Burnett Street and High Street where deputies arrested Kelley. Bloodhound Tracking teams, investigators and assisting agencies were called to the initial incident location and surrounding areas to assist in finding the remaining two suspects.

Shortly after running from the fleeing vehicle, deputies and Burnettown Police arrested Redd on Carline Road. Brookins was taken into custody at 151 Murphy Street in Warrenville area, after the tracking team received information that he was at that location.

All suspects are charged with burglary 2nd degree and grand larceny. Kelly and Redd will also be charged with Failure to Stop for Blue Lights.

Oops! A Richmond County deputy accidentally fired his weapon Wednesday morning while responding to a domestic dispute at River Glen Apartments, according to a press release.

No one was harmed.

(For more crime news from the Augusta-Aiken area, check out this week’s new issue of The Jail Report. Cover image: http://thejailreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Cover-Issue-639.jpg)

In the accidental shooting, the deputy’s name is being withheld. The deputy had his weapon drawn while clearing the apartment building for officer safety and the general safety of the public, sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Shane McDaniel Sr. said in a press release.

According to Sgt. McDaniel, “Once the sheriff’s deputy rendered the apartment building safe, he attempted to holster his weapon. In doing this, the butt of the weapon was caught in his jacket while he holstered. Not knowing that the butt of his weapon was caught in his jacket, the sheriff’s deputy attempted to holster the weapon, which resulted in one single round being shot from his weapon. The projectile struck the cement floor located outside of the apartments.”

Internal Affairs officers went to the scene and rendered the area safe. A thorough investigation was conducted, which consisted of detailed statements being collected from residents and eyewitnesses of River Glen, who identified this incident as an accident, Sgt. McDaniel said.

“It was learned that there was neither injuries nor any property damage as a result of this accidental discharge,” Sgt. McDaniel said.

Two more K-9s working for the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office have died, including one that got loose from his handler’s home and was struck by a hit & run driver, authorities said,

Neither death led to a press release from Sheriff Michael Hunt despite public outcry over a previous K-9 death. In that case, a K-9 died in 2013 when his handler left him in a hot car, a story that came out more than a year after it happened following a tip to The Jail Report.

The Jail Report learned of the newest deaths through the same sources. Sheriff’s Capt. Eric Abdullah confirmed Wednesday that two police K-9s died in unrelated circumstances.

A German Shepherd- Belgian Malinois mix, identified as Nico, died a week ago after he got loose from the home of the handler, identified as sheriff’s Sgt. Christopher Carey. The animal was struck on Highway 39 near Wagener by a truck that kept going. Sgt. Carey went looking for the K-9 and found him dead in the middle of the street, Capt. Abdullah said. The impact was strong enough to leave the vehicle’s bumper in the road.

Asked why the sheriff’s office didn’t put out a press release, the captain said “there was nothing to put out.”

“The dog was being a dog,” Capt. Abdullah said. “The dog got out of the fence, got into the highway and struck. … This was an unfortunate accident. Obviously, someone hit this dog and kept going. That right there is probably where that person didn’t even have the courtesy of stopping.”

The dog was one of two animals donated to the sheriff’s office two weeks ago from the U.S. Army. The animals came from Fort Benning. Now, the handler has buried the animal on his property, Capt. Abdullah said.

“We looked into what happened. The dog got out of the fence. There is no negligence. We had the dog less than two weeks,” Capt. Abdullah said.

In the second death, a bloodhound named Samson was suffering from an aggressive cancer and was put down on the recommendation of a veterinarian, the captain said.

PREVIOUS STORY – POSTED OCT. 1, 2014

The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office confirmed over the last week that a bomb-sniffing K9 died last summer when an officer left him in a hot car.

The death of the tan Labrador named “Cooper” was never announced to the public and no ACSO ceremony was held. The K9’s handler, Sgt. James Taylor, was demoted to deputy and placed on probation for six months as a result of the death. He eventually left the sheriff’s office in January 2014.

The Jail Report received a message about the death last week, and we asked about it.

According to an account by sheriff’s Capt. Eric Abdullah, the incident occurred on June 7, 2013.

“Deputy James Taylor, who was the K9 handler, did have that dog with him with he come to work that morning.  He did leave his K9 in his patrol vehicle running but did not have on the air because when he came to work that morning it was cool weather and raining,” Capt. Abdullah said in an email statement. “That deputy did break (relief and exercise) his dog during the morning hours …  The handler put the K9 back in the vehicle.  Later when he returned to break his dog again, approximately 3 pm, he did notice that the dog was unresponsive at which time the dog was taken to the vet for medical assistance.”

Capt. Abdullah said the weather had gone from being cold and rainy to humid and hot on June 7, a fact he confirmed with a weather report from that day.

The 5-year-old dog was obtained from K2 Solutions Inc., a North Carolina company. He was trained as a Explosive Detection Dog. The sheriff’s captain said he does not have a file photo of Cooper, who was buried by his handler in a private ceremony.

Taylor is 32 years old and was employed at the sheriff’s office from Feb. 2008-Jan 2014.

Sheriff Michael Hunt declined The Jail Report’s request for an interview about the K9’s death.

Capt. Abdullah called the death a “tragic accident.”

“The deputy owned up to his mistake, and it was a tragic accident. It was an unfortunate accident, is what it was,” Capt. Abdullah said. .

Why wasn’t the death announced? “It involved disciplinary action against a deputy: I don’t know if that is newsworthy,” he said. “We do consider them as (close) to being an officer. I don’t know how to respond to that as far as not putting that out.”

These men used a stolen credit card at the Evans Target store. The victim said someone took the card Saturday from his vehicle while parked in front of Babies R Us.

Think you know who they might be?

Please call the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at 706-541-2800 and stop these guys from targeting you next!

The owner of a country store in Warrenville has been busted for food stamp fraud and dealing pills, Aiken County authorities said.

Dianne Eubanks, owner of Smoak’s County Store (left photo), was arrested Thursday after a 6-month investigation into EBT fraud. While searching the store at 395 Piney Heights Road, investigators found “a cache of illegal pills and a large quantity of money associated with the distribution of narcotics,” sheriff’s Capt. Eric Abdullah said in a press release.

Eubanks, 65, was charged with six counts of food stamp fraud, five counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a Schedule III controlled substance.

“The investigation also discovered several EBT cards that did not belong to Eubanks,” Capt. Abdullah said.

Investigators also arrested Jeffery Earl Ashley (top right), who was at the store, for marijuana possession and unlawful carrying of a handgun. Ashley’s arrest was not related to the fraud investigation.

A second food stamp arrest was also made: Yvonne Key (bottom right) was charged with food stamp fraud at Valley Jacks, located at 4388 Augusta Road in the Warrenville area.

SLED, SC Department of Social Services and Camden Police Department assisted with this investigation.

Murder charges have been filed against 59-year-old Richard Manley Ouzts in the Sunday morning slaying of an elderly relative  on Rheney Road in Hephzibah, authorities say.

Ouzts is accused of killing 75-year-old Bobby Shue. Ouzts is also accused of attempting to murder his own wife, 60-year-old Deborah Ouzts. The suspect and victims all lived together on the 4200 block of Rheney Road.

Sgt. Monica Belser said investigators believe the victim was shot and stabbed, but the actual cause of death is pending autopsy.

At 4:43 a.m. Sunday, deputies responded to the 4200 block of Rheney Road in Hephzibah in reference to a distress call. They found the body of a white male in his 70s. Officers also observed a female brutally assaulted.

Richard Ouzts is also being charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and false imprisonment.

The sheriff’s office is declining to release a possible motive, leaving the community guessing again about the cause of homicides in Richmond County.

The athletic director of Harlem High School has been arrested for burglary after allegedly going into his ex-wife’s home and taking Hydrocodone pills, authorities said.

Adam Hampton Fulford, 47, of Grovetown, was arrested Friday and charged with one count of burglary, sheriff’s Capt. Steve Morris said. A spokeswoman with the school system says he resigned Monday morning.

Fulford had moved out of their home in on Cedar Springs Road in Appling. Both work at Harlem High School.

During school hours on Friday, Feb. 6, a neighbor called the sheriff’s office to report that Fulford was seen going into his ex-wife’s home. The ex-wife later told deputies that she was missing about 100 Hydrocodone pills.

A warrant was issued for burglary and Fulford was arrested Friday night, Capt. Morris said. He is free on bond.

“We believe he got into the home with a key that he had not returned,” the captain said. “He claims the door was unlocked. We believe there was a key. There was no forced entry.”

Fulford is Harlem High’s athletic director as well as offensive coordinator for the football team and coach of the track team, according to a school website.

A message from Fulford on the school website: “Coach Adam Fulford  has been a proud and devoted Harlem High School bulldog for twelve years. During his second year as Athletic Director, he is dedicated to each sport and the promotion of good sportsmanship qualities among the student athletes.”

A deputy jailer at the Richmond County Detention Center has been terminated for bringing contraband into the jail on several past occasions, a spokesman said.

(This is one of several stories in this week’s edition of The Jail Report. Cover image: http://thejailreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Cover-Issue-640.jpg)

The former jailer is Arthur Dennies Jr.

“The Sheriff’s Office has conducted searches of our facility but have not located any recent outside contraband,” sheriff’s Lt. Allan Rollins said Tuesday in an email to The Jail Report.

Lt. Rollins said the sheriff’s office is currently in the process of reviewing the agency’s security protocols and trying to determine if any other Richmond County personnel have been implicated.

This investigation is still ongoing, he said.

It was unclear whether a criminal investigation is being conducted in relationship to Dennies and the contraband brought into the jail.

Guards at other local facilities have been criminally charged after being caught bringing contraband into the facilities.

Richmond County authorities are asking for your help following a fight that was caught on video at the Augusta Waffle House, according to WFXG-TV.

Video: http://www.wfxg.com/story/28252228/local-waffle-house-fight-caught-on-video

(For more crime news from the Augusta area, pick up this week’s edition of The Jail Report.
Cover image: http://thejailreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Cover-Issue-640.jpg)

In the Waffle House fight, the video shows girls fighting and trying to rip their hair out, turning dinner plates into weapons.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office said it all went down at a Waffle House off Gordon Highway. According to WFXG, authorities so far have little information to go on, and now need your help in finding those involved. Call 706-821-1020.