On 050214 at 0105 hours Deputy George Edenfield initiated a traffic stop on silver Honda Civic on the 1300 block of Jones Street. The vehicle fled from the scene and traveled west on the eastbound side of Riverwatch Parkway until it crashed into the guardrail. The driver was able to flee from the vehicle in an unknown direction before Deputy Edenfield was able to observe him. He notified dispatch and multiple units responded to the area in order to assist in locating the subject. Approximately twenty minutes later Deputy Brent Espinosa spotted the vehicle on Waters Edge Drive. The suspect ran down the hill towards the canal. He then jumped into the water and began to swim away from deputies. Deputies Jacob Dorn, Tyler Marzofka, Ryan Jones, Richard Justice, and Mark Phillips all entered the water in order to attempt to capture the fleeing suspect. The subject was able to make his way to the river before the deputies could catch up to him. Deputies Dorn and Marzofka were able to locate and commandeer a small boat and followed the suspect into the Savannah River towards North Augusta, S.C. They were able to overtake the suspect, and placing themselves at great risk, were able to take the subject into custody, place him into the boat, and transport him back to the Georgia side of the river. At that time Sgt. Adams and the other deputies helped remove the suspect from the boat, into a patrol car. The vehicle turned out to be stolen and the suspect was charged with numerous traffic charges.

On 040514 at approximately 2220 hours Sergeant Everett Jenkins was working a special duty assignment at the BI-LO at 1631 Gordon Hwy when he heard what he believed to be shots fired in the parking lot. Rather than simply ignore what could have turned out to be a backfire from a vehicle or call it in to Dispatch, he went outside to investigate the cause of the disturbance. In the parking lot he found a victim of a gunshot wound and observed a burgundy Ford Crown Victoria fleeing the scene. Sergeant Jenkins then got in his vehicle and began an effort to stop the vehicle. He eventually got the vehicle stopped at 2106 Cook Road and located three suspects in the vehicle. A weapon was located at 2104 Tubman Home Road. Unfortunately, the victim succumbed to his injuries from the gunshot. However, due to the quick reaction, thinking and actions of Sergeant Jenkins, three suspects were quickly apprehended without further injury to himself or others.

On 050114 at approximately 1304 hours dispatch received a call from a concerned citizen in reference to a burglary in progress at 1304 Kings Grant Drive. Officers from three divisions responded to the area. Deputy Robert Etterlee was the first officer to arrive at the incident location and upon his arrival he immediately put out a description of the suspects and the vehicle. Continue Reading →

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office would like to recognize Lt. Blaise D. Dresser on the completion of Supervision level 1 , 2 and 3 program.

Deputy Austin Shepherd was patrolling the area of the 3100 block of Washington Road on Sept. 11, 2013, when he encountered the Randal family. Deputy Shepherd discovered that Mr. Randals, his wife and two children were homeless and had been living out of their vehicle for approximately seven days. Deputy Shepherd further discovered that Mrs. Randals is an Army veteran who suffers from mental issues causing erratic behavior. Mrs. Randals had abandoned Mr. Randals and their 8-year-old son and left in their vehicle with their 2-year-old daughter. It was also determined that Mrs. Randals had destroyed all the clothing belonging to the 8-year-old because “someone had put tracking devices in them”. Deputy Shepherd located the vehicle and during the traffic stop that ensued Mrs. Randal exited the vehicle and begged Deputy Shepherd to shoot her. Mrs. Randals was taken into custody without incident and was transported to the hospital for an emergency evaluation. After the call, Deputy Shepherd informed his wife of the events. Mrs. Shepherd then purchased clothes for the 8-year-old. Deputy Shepherd raised $140 through donations provided by fellow officers to help the family. Deputy Shepherd also arranged a room for the family at a reduced rate at a local motel managed by a business friend of his. Deputy Austin Shepherd is commended for his compassion and his excellent work was a comfort for this family during a difficult time. Our agency and community are very grateful for your service and dedication to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Beverly Hoffman-Wright and Deputy Caleb A. Lee responded to 4305 White Pines Court on Sept. 23, 2013, in reference to a welfare check. The deputies were advised by an out of state caller that the subject, Ubell Nimo, was threatening to commit suicide and wished for this agency to check on his well-being. Upon arrival, Deputies Hoffman-Wright and Lee could hear an unknown type motor running in the garage but could not access the garage from the outside of the residence. The deputies found the front door unlocked and entered the residence. Deputies Hoffman-Wright and Lee found Nimo unresponsive in the garage with a gas weed eater and a gas blower running. The deputies opened the main garage door and were able to remove Nimo from the garage into the fresh air but not before both deputies were exposed to large amounts of carbon monoxide. Gold Cross responded to the scene and transported both deputies and Nimo to University Hospital for treatment. The quick and selfless actions of Deputy Hoffman-Wright and Deputy Lee were paramount in saving Nimo’s life.

Deputy Leslie E. Boatright and Deputy Beverly Hoffman-Wright responded to 1600 Caldwell Drive Apt. G on Aug. 7, 2013, in reference to a domestic dispute with a possible weapon having been fired. Upon arrival, Deputy Boatright and Deputy Hoffman-Wright entered Apt. G without knowing that the suspect had already fled the scene. Deputy Boatright and Deputy Hoffman-Wright were also unaware that Bertha Lopez had been shot in the femoral artery and was lying on the floor bleeding profusely behind a closed bedroom door at the end of the hallway. Deputies Boatright and Hoffman-Wright advanced down the hallway with no cover between themselves and the bedroom door where they discovered Lopez barely conscious and going into shock from her injuries. Deputy Hoffman-Wright treated Lopez for shock until Gold Cross EMS arrived and transported Lopez to the hospital. Lopez is currently recovering from her injuries. The quick and selfless actions of Deputy Boatright and Deputy Hoffman-Wright were paramount in keeping Lopez alive from what could have been a fatal wound.

Investigator Ben Harman, Investigator Ben Parrish, Investigator Keith McGarity, Deputy Kris Lapham and Criminal Analyist Lateisha Mosquera have provided valuable intel during recent CompStat meetings to the Operational Command Staff that assisted in the prevention of incidents of violence within Richmond County. Additionally, they often play a large role in the execution of search warrants and seizure warrants that have resulted in placing violent criminals behind bars and the seizure of their assets as well as ensure all reports are properly documented. Each of these officers is often called upon beyond the normal work day and they are always willing to be of assistance. From situations that have arisen regarding potential gang violence to the apprehension of an aggravated assault suspect who shot his victim twice, these fine men and women have gone above and beyond by working with commanders within this agency and sources from other agencies, even when they were off duty, to ensure that the suspects were swiftly brought to justice. As a result of the hard work, dedication and time away from their families, these officers have greatly improved the Intel provided to all certified personnel within the agency. This information has helped to increase officer safety, reduce incidents of violence within the community and has better prepared the agency as a whole in prevention and response. The actions of these individuals has helped to reduced violence within Augusta, provided for a safer community and potentially saved lives. As Sheriff, speaking for the entire agency, we are very grateful for your services and your actions above and beyond the call of duty.

Corporal Byrnie L. Hardin Jr. responded to Lock and Dam Road at Doug Bernard Parkway on September 13, 2103 to assist a Richmond County Board of Education Officer who was on a traffic stop in reference to shots being fired near a school. Upon arrival Corporal Hardin observed a white male, Henry Church, flee in his vehicle (2008 Ford Truck)from the traffic stop. Corporal Hardin pursued the suspect vehicle down Lock and Dam Road into the Lock and Dam Park where the driver drove the vehicle into the Savannah River attempting to elude Corporal Hardin. Fearing for the driver’s safety, Corporal Hardin removed his duty gear and jumped into the water to try and rescue the driver. The driver/suspect was able to exit his vehicle without assistance and swam to the South Carolina side to escape from being apprehended. He was soon captured by the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office. Corporal Hardin should be commended for his heroic effort in jumping into the Savannah River with no regard for his own safety to rescue a suspect who had just committed a crime.

Deputy William L. Smith, center, responded to the area of Plantation Road and Peach Orchard Road on August 22, 2013, around 4 p.m.in reference to locating a vehicle from a burglary that had just occurred on Travis Pines Road. Deputy Smith located the vehicle and detained the driver. The passenger fled on foot. Max Barker, the suspect who fled, would be the prime suspect from the burglary. Items from the burglary were located in the vehicle and the driver was taken into custody and charged. The next day Deputy Smith was assigned to the 25 beat, but knowing the Barker suspect was not in custody, Lt. Robbie Silas had Deputy Smith, along with Corporal Byrnie L. Hardin Jr., ride the area Barker was known to frequent to attempt to capture him. While checking on a trailer on Hensley Road, the suspect was found hiding inside. After fleeing on foot he was soon captured by Deputy Smith and Corporal Hardin. His capture completed a burglary investigation and most likely prevented others. The suspect, Max Barker, was charged with Burglary and had outstanding warrants for drugs and other thefts. Due to the quick and efficient actions of Deputy Smith and Corporal Hardin a burglary suspect was arrested.