Madison Police
Department

• On Aug. 18 an attempted burglary complaint was filed at a West Jefferson Street location after a woman reported that when she walked out the back door of the business to get the mail, she noticed pry marks around a back door. The marks appeared to have been made by a screw driver, reports state.

• On Aug. 19 a larceny from building complaint was filed at an Amtico Road location after a woman reported that someone had taken tools from five different employees from Aug. 9 to Aug. 11.

• On Aug. 18 a fraud complaint was filed at an Eatonton Road location after a woman reported that she had been contacted by a Seattle, Wash., man who alleged that someone had used his credit card to purchase three tires from the complainant at $1,452. Reports state that the woman said that a man driving a white Chevrolet dual pick-up truck had purchased the tires and, that at the time of purchase, he had presented identification that matched the name on the credit card.

• On Aug. 18 a simple assault complaint was filed at an Eatonton Road department store after a man reported that while he was working at the store, another man known to him engaged him in a conversation. The complainant said while the two men were talking, the topic of the conversation drifted to a discussion regarding the complainant allegedly initiating a relationship with the man’s girlfriend. The complainant, reports state, protested the allegation, stating “she is my cousin, why would I do that?” At that point in the discussion the man allegedly punched the complainant in the face. The man then attempted to strike the complainant a second time but missed. At this point the man ran from the store.

Madison Police Department
    • On Aug. 11 Lachaka Torressa Stewart, 33, Augusta, was arrested and charged with giving false information to police. According to reports, officers arrived at an Eatonton Road motel on Aug. 2 to investigate an assault complaint and met with Stewart who, reports state, told officers her name was Lashika Morris.
    On Aug. 11 officers were called back to the motel in regards to a female threatening others with a knife. On that call they approached Stewart and called her “Mrs. Morris” but Stewart did not respond. Officers then determined that there was an outstanding warrant for Stewart from Augusta. She was then placed into custody.

    • On Aug. 11 Terrance Antwan Walker, 26, Madison, was arrested and charged with obstruction after he allegedly disrupted an investigation into allegations that he was attempting to start a fight at a Garnett Street residence. Reports state that a woman at the residence reported to officers that Walker had engaged in an argument and would not leave the residence. Reports state that earlier in the day deputies from the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office had also been to the residence and had attempted to arrest Walker but Walker had fled on foot.

    • On Aug. 4 a shoplifting complaint was filed at an Eatonton Road department store after a manager at the store reported that a woman entered the store with a large, grey, cloth purse and when she left the store the purse appeared to be full of items. The woman left the parking lot in a tan Nissan Sentra.

Over the past several weeks, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in property thefts within Morgan County. Aside from the never ending air conditioner thefts from churches and vacant structures for the copper components, individuals with a propensity to take from others have expanded their forte by stealing practically anything not nailed down. It’s run the gamut from laptop computers, digital cameras, currency, lawnmowers, wallets, cell phones, weed eaters and so on. An overwhelming majority of them were crimes of opportunity where the victim merely left their valued possessions unsecured and ripe for the taking.
    Everyone must remember that thieves are looming everywhere and look for the unsuspecting victim 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They drive down our streets, they knock on our doors and they steal whatever they can get their hands on. They’re merely looking for and taking advantage of that golden opportunity---when someone lets their guard down.
Fortunately, there are a couple of ways to combat this incessant thievery. First and foremost, it is incumbent upon everyone to secure their belongings. Otherwise, trust me, they will not be their belongings very long. Everyone must minimize the opportunity for theft by locking their doors, locking their vehicles and securely storing their possessions. It’s called prevention. It’s what frustrates thieves. It causes them to look elsewhere!

Madison Police
Department
    • On August 5 Donna Marie Copeland, 50, Eatonton, was arrested and charged with public intoxication after authorities responded to a lewd act in public complaint at the intersection of Georgia Highway 24 and Cox Road. When they arrived, reports state, they observed that Copeland was “very intoxicated.” An officer advised her that she needed to find transportation away from the area and, reports state, Copeland requested that the officer transport her to a flea market in Eatonton. The officer told Copeland that he could not travel outside city limits. Reports state that after approximately 30 minutes of Copeland not being cooperative or giving the officer a phone number for someone to pick her up she was then arrested and transported to the Morgan County Detention Center.
    • On August 4 a damage to property complaint was filed at an Eatonton Road motel after a man reported that someone had broken the window of a room. Estimated damage to the window is $150.
    On August 5 a dog bite complaint was filed at a Martin Luther King Jr. Drive location after a woman reported that a black male Pit Bull had bitten her in the thigh and hand while she was attempting to fight the dog off. Reports state that the woman told officers she was walking on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and noticed a group of children in a tree.
    The children told the woman to beware of a Pit Bull.
    The Pit Bull then ran around a house on Terris Drive and attacked another smaller Pit Bull in the yard. The woman said she was distracted by the black Pit Bull and retrieved the smaller dog and placed it in the residence. The woman said the black Pit Bull then rounded the corner again and attacked her. She said the dog approached at a sprint and then jumped toward her torso area.

Madison Police
Department
    • On July 30 a 14-year-old Florida girl was detained at an Eatonton Road truck stop after an officer determined that the girl had been reported as a runaway. According to reports, the officer was called to the truck stop by a man who demanded anonymity. The man told the officer that he had observed the teenage girl “hanging” out with two older men near the shower area of the truck stop. The officers searched for the three but could not locate them. The same man then directed the officer toward a maroon truck. The officer got all three occupants of the truck to exit the truck. The girl was identified as a runaway from Florida and was detained. She was transported to the Morgan County Detention Center until her father arrived to take her back to Florida. One of the men in the truck had an outstanding warrant against him in Florida and was taken into custody.
    • On July 30 Jarid Ray Gordon, 20, Madison, was arrested and charged with battery, possession of dangerous drugs and pills not in their original container. According to reports, an officer responding to a report of a man hitting a woman and fleeing in a Toyota. The officer located the Toyota and observed a female driver who had red marks on her face and neck. The woman told authorities that her boyfriend had struck her. The officer also observed Gordon as a passenger in the vehicle. Gordon, reports state, told police that he had been drinking beer and had an argument with his girlfriend but denied striking the woman. An officer also observed four pills in a plastic bag next to Gordon in the vehicle. Gordon, reports state, told the officer he had filled a prescription for muscle relaxers and pain killers for his grandmother and had taken a few of the pills for himself. He was then arrested and transported to the Morgan County Detention Center.

Madison Police
Department
    • On July 23 Hung Tienn Phan, 21, Grovetown, Ga., was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana after a vehicle in which he was a passenger was stopped for speeding on Interstate 20. According to reports, a Georgia State Patrol trooper searched the vehicle after the stop and allegedly located a clear cellophane bag containing suspected marijuana, rolling papers, a pill bottle with suspected marijuana residue and a cigarette box containing a suspected marijuana cigarette. According to reports Phan allegedly told the officers the items belonged to him.
    • On July 22 an entering auto complaint was filed at a Ramada Lane location after a woman reported that someone had removed a black Coach purse from her vehicle. The purse was valued at $200 and contained a Social Security card, credit cards, a medical license and a prescription pad.