Madison Police Department

• On Feb. 28 a damage to property complaint was filed at a Newman Drive location after officers responded to a residental alarm. According to reports, the officers observed that someone had attempted to kick in a back door of the residence but had not gained entry. The residence's owner arrived and verified that nothing was reported missing but a table lamp had been broken in the attempt to enter.
• On Feb. 28 Walter Edwin Merritt, 25, Madison, was arrested and charged with simple assault, hindering a 911 call, damage to property, obstruction, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, possession of marijuana in a housing project, possession of marijuana in a drug free zone and possession of drug related objects. According to reports, an officer was called to a Madison Avenue residence for a domestic dispute complaint. The officer reported that when he arrived he was directed into the house by a woman. Reports state that Merritt was walking away from the officer down a hallway. The officer said he detected a strong smell of marijuana coming from plastic bags on a sofa. Merritt told the officer that the suspected marijuana was not his property and then rushed at the officer in an attempt to flee. The officer reported that he had a "violent" struggle with Merritt, injuring his right thumb. Merritt eventually fled the residence but was arrested by another officer on Vine Street. The woman said she and Merritt had an argument and she was attempting to call police when Merritt allegedly took her cell phone and threw it against a wall. The woman had scratches on her right arm that she told officers she received from Merritt during the argument. Along with suspected marijuana in two sandwich bags an officer also seized an electronic digital scale.
• On Feb. 26 a larceny from auto complaint was filed at an Eatonton Road location after a woman reported that someone had entered her unlocked 2005 Dodge Neon while it was parked at Cracker Barrell and removed $2,800 cash from her purse. The woman said the money was a portion of a recent tax refund she had received.

Morgan County Sheriff's Department

• On March 1 John Michael O'Neill, 20, Greensboro, was arrested and charged with fleeing or attempting to elude and failure to obey signs or control devices after he allegedly attempted to flee from a deputy driving a motorcycle. According to reports, a deputy stated that he observed O'Neill driving a blue motorcycle exit the Cowboy's parking lot on Rutledge Highway and then begin to drive erratically. Reports state that the deputy accelerated to maintain pace with O'Neill and that O'Neill allegedly did not stop at an intersection of Rutledge Highway and Newborn Road. Reports state that the deputy followed O'Neill for approximately six miles west at speeds of more than 100 mph. Madison Police Department officers had established a road block near the Madison city limits. When O'Neill reached the road block, reports state, he lost control of the motorcycle. The motorcycle struck a Madison Police Department vehicle. O'Neill was transported to Morgan Memorial Hospital for treatment and then to the Morgan County Detention Center.
• On March 2 an information report was filed at a Sulgrave Drive location after a deputy responded to a fight in progress complaint. Reports state that when the deputy arrived a 14-year-old girl told him that three women had attacked her mother. The mother, reports state, appeared to be "highly intoxicated" and told officers she did not know what had happened to her. The woman had two cuts over her right eye and a cut on the inside of her upper lip.
• On March 2 a criminal damage to property complaint was filed at a Wallace Grove Road, Rutledge, location after a man reported that surveilliance video at Wallace Grove Baptist Church had captured images of a black truck with dark tinted windows and a white emblem on the right top side of the back window laying drag in the church parking lot.
• On March 2 a theft by taking complaint was filed at a Doster Road location after a woman reported that someone had taken a John Deere 4x2 Gator from the property. The woman estimated the value of the vehicle at $5,000. She said a Husqvarna chain saw, valued at $400 was in the Gator at the time of the theft.
• On Feb. 28 a financial transaction card theft complaint was filed at a High Shoals Road, Bishop, location after a woman reported that someone had used her VISA card to purchase shoes from an American Eagle store in Pennsylvania. Reports state the $285 shoes were purcahsed on January 22, 2013. The woman said someone had also attempted to use her American Express card at an Athens Best Buy in December.
• On Feb. 28 a theft by taking complaint was filed at a Seven Islands Road location after a woman reported that someone entered her property and took a basketball goal and pole. The woman told the officer she suspects a family member of taking the goal but would not state who she suspected.
• On Feb. 27 an excessive noise report was filed at a Morgan Circle location after a deputy reported observing a white vehicle with a  blue top driving north on Eliza Morris Street with loud music coming from the vehicle. Reports state that the deputy followed the vehicle to Morgan Circle where the vehicle backed into a parking space. The deputy advised the driver over his PA system to move the vehicle back onto the street so he could verify its vehicle registration information. The driver, a tall black male, exited the vehicle and fled on foot. A search for the driver was unsuccessful. The vehicle was impounded.
• On Feb. 27 a domestic violence complaint was filed at a Prospect Road location after a deputy responded to a report of a man and woman having a verbal argument. Reports state that the deputy was able to mediate the arguement and no arrests were made.
• On Feb. 26 a harassing phone calls complaint was filed at a Fraction Bottom Road location after a woman reported that her estranged husband had called and stated that he was coming to get the couple's son. The woman said she and the man are in the process of obtaining a divorce and that the man allegedly threatened to kill anyone who attempted to stop him.
• On Feb. 25 a disorderly conduct complaint was filed at a Parks Mill Road, Buckhead, location after a man reported that his wife had come to the residence demanding that the couple file taxes together. The man said he told the wife that he had already filed taxes  and the wife allegedly pulled a knife and threatened to cut the man.
• On Feb. 25 a 14-year-old male student at Morgan County High School was issued a juvenile complaint form after he allegedly brought a fixed blade hunting knife to school. Reports state that an administrator seized the knife from the student's book bag.
• On Feb. 25 Callie Adams Howell, 44, Social Circle, was arrested and charged with possession of schedule 1 narcotcis, possession of drug related materials and disorderly conduct. Robert David Adams, 42, Social Circle, was arrested and charged with possession of a schedule 1 controlled substance and possession of drug related objects. According to reports, Howell and Adams were arrested after a traffic stop. Reports state that a man called authorities after alleging that a blue SUV driven by Adams was seen in his driveway on Williams Road, Newborn. The complainant reported that the occupants had been walking on his property and going through trash. Deputies and a Georgia State Patrol trooper stopped the SUV on Clack Road. According to reports, Adams told the officer that they had stopped the vehicle in the driveway to change drivers after Howell told him she had not brought her driver's license. During the traffic stop Adams refused a request to search the vehicle but a K-9 officer allegedly alerted on the vehicle. Officers seized suspected crack cocaine, a glass smoking device, copper scrubbing pads and a screw driver "that appeared to have been used to assist with smoking crack cocaine." During the traffic stop, reports state, Howell told the officers that they had "no business" stopping the vehicle. She also allegedly ignored several requests to remain calm. Reports state that she advanced toward the state trooper and the K-9 officer as the dog was doing a free air search of the vehicle and that she repeatedly used profanity towards the officers during the search. Both were arrested at the scene and transported to the Morgan County Detention Center. Officers also seized $1,234 in cash from Adams.
• On Feb. 28 an identity fraud complaint was filed at a Little Creek Road location after a woman reported that someone had used her husband's Social Security number to file a tax return. The woman said she discovered the fraud when she attempted to file the couple's tax return but was told that someone had used the number on an earlier filed return.
• On Feb. 25 a burglary complaint was filed at an Aqua Road location after a woman reported that  someone had entered her residence and removed more than $10,000 worth of jewelry and more than $3,000 worth of guns. The woman said all the items had been removed from the master bedroom of the house and that when she arrived at the residence there were no signs of forced entry and both front and back door were locked and secured.
• On Feb. 5 Christopher Eiting, 29, Madison, was arrested and charged with theft by taking after he allegedly took $100 from an Old Buckhead Road day care center. According to reports, an employee at the center reported that someone had recently entered the business and removed money from a desk. The employee said more than $500 had been stolen. She reported that she set up video surveillance of her desk and placed $100 on the desk. She reported that at 4:50 p.m. on Feb. 4 she recorded Eiting entering the establishment and taking the money.

Printed in the March 7, 2013 edition