In the early morning hours of Wednesday, February 15th, one of our officers was on patrol in the area of Highway 80 when he spotted a vehicle without tag lights. After conducting a traffic stop, the officer was able to smell the odor of marijuana emitting from within. When asked, the vehicle’s occupants admitted to smoking earlier that day. During the course of a subsequent search, the officer found a small amount of marijuana, a bong and an orange pill believed to be Alprazolam. While speaking with the officer, the driver admitted that she did not have a prescription for the pill. At that time, she was placed under arrest and charged with a Tag Light Violation and Possession of a Controlled Substance. The pill was sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for positive identification. The marijuana and bong were logged into the TIPD Property Room and marked for destruction.

Later that same morning, officers responded to a gated condominium complex in reference to an incident of damage to property. While speaking with our officers, the property manager stated that a vehicle attempted to enter the complex through the open “exit” gate, striking a nearby pole and sign in the process. Officers then spoke with the driver of the vehicle, who admitted to striking the objects and offered to pay for all damages. When asked for her license, the driver claimed that she did not have it with her and provided what ultimately proved to be a false name and date of birth. When confronted about the false information, the woman began to cry and apologized for lying. She then provided her actual information, which revealed that she had active felony warrants out of Effingham County. At that time, the woman was placed under arrest and booked into custody for Giving a False Name and Date of Birth to Law Enforcement. She was later transferred to the Chatham County Detention Center to await transport to Effingham.

On Friday, February 17th, officers responded to the four-way intersection at Jones and 6th Street in reference to a vehicle crash. During the course of the investigation, the officers learned that the at-fault vehicle had failed to stop at the stop sign, resulting in the crash. They also learned that the driver of that vehicle did not have a license. He was then placed under arrest and charged with Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign and No Driver’s License.

Later that evening, officers were participating in a Governor’s Office of Highway Safety checkpoint on Highway 80 near the Lazaretto Creek Bridge. During the course of the checkpoint, one driver attempted to pass off his passenger’s license as his own. Subsequent investigation revealed that the driver’s license was revoked and that he had active warrants through Chatham County. Officers also spotted an open container of alcohol on the driver’s side of the vehicle. At that time he was placed under arrest and booked into custody on the charges of Driving on a Revoked License and Open Container. He was later transferred to the Chatham County Detention Center to answer for his warrants.

On Saturday, February 18th, officers responded to Inlet Avenue in reference to a Hit and Run. While speaking with officers, witnesses stated that a Jeep had backed into a nearby car before fleeing the scene. While checking the area, officers located the Jeep a short distance away. During the course of the subsequent investigation, the officers learned that the driver’s license was revoked. She was then placed under arrest and charged with Improper Backing, Hit and Run and Driving While License Revoked.