Officers responded to a residence on 2nd Avenue in reference to a possible theft.. While speaking with our team, the victims stated that someone had stolen several of their items, to include three cell phones, a purse, Air pods and a speaker, after they were left unattended on the beach. The total value of the stolen property was estimated at over $8,000.

While the men and women of the Tybee Island Police Department believe that no one is to blame but the thieves responsible, its important to remember that criminals enjoy the beach, too! If you’re headed to the water, we ask that you keep your items in eyesight, or have a member of your party sit with your stuff!

____

Officers responded to a residence on 5th Avenue in reference to a theft. While speaking with the victim, the officers learned that earlier that day, a car had pulled into the driveway of the residence. The passengers then exited the vehicle, and walked into the backyard, where they stole approximately $20 worth of Ginger and Tumeric plants before leaving the scene. During the course of the conversation, the victim expressed that they would have “given them the plants, if they’d only asked”. Now the suspects are facing arrest.

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, one of our officers stopped a vehicle for having a defective tag light. While speaking with the driver, the officer noticed that she was visibly nervous and shaking. When asked for her driver’s license, the woman claimed that she did not have it with her. As such, the officer provided her with a pen and paper, asking her to write the correct spelling of her name and her date of birth. Subsequent investigation would reveal that the information the woman provided during this time was fake. After the officer placed the woman under arrest, her passengers exited the vehicle, locking the doors in the process. When asked to open the car back up, they claimed to have locked the keys inside. Due to the fact that policy requires the vehicle to be inventoried prior to being towed, the officer contacted the fire department to unlock it. During the course of the subsequent inventory, the officer found two loaded handguns under the driver’s seat. This became problematic after it was learned that the woman was a convicted felon. While being processed at TIPD, the woman told officers that she was feeling very ill. She was then booked on the charges of Tag Light Required, Giving False Name and Date of Birth to Law Enforcement, No Driver’s License and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, before being released into the custody of emergency medical personnel.

______________________________

While on patrol and in full uniform, officers made contact with a man who offered them marijuana. When asked if he had any more drugs, the man provided them with a bottle that had more “weed” inside. A subsequent check of the guy through the GCIC computer system revealed that he had been reported missing out of a nearby jurisdiction. The officers then gave him a courtesy ride to the Tybee Island Police Department, where he was turned over to the care of a loved one.

All of the generous gent’s marijuana was then booked into our evidence room, where it was marked for destruction.

____________________________

One of our officers was on patrol in the area of Highway 80, when he spotted a vehicle failing to maintain it’s lane. After being stopped, the driver admitted to the violation and claimed that she had been paying too much attention to her GPS. During the conversation, the officer noticed that the woman’s eyes were red and watery and that she slurred her words as she spoke. During the course of the subsequent investigation, the officer found additional evidence to suggest that the woman had been operating the vehicle while under the influence. After placing the woman under arrest, the officer conducted an inventory of her vehicle. It was during this time that he found a “bong” which was still hot to the touch and a bag containing additional pipes and marijuana. The woman was then transported to the Tybee Island Police Department, where she was booked into custody on the charges of Failure to Maintain Lane and DUI. The drugs and related objects were placed into our evidence room and marked for destruction.

While on patrol, one our officers spotted a vehicle approaching the intersection of Butler and Tybrisa at a high rate of speed. As the officer watched, the vehicle failed to yield to a pedestrian in the crosswalk before turning on 17th. After stopping the vehicle, the officer immediately smelled a strong odor similar to that of an alcoholic drink emitting from within. After being confronted about the smell, the driver admitted to having “two drinks”. When asked if he would be willing to participate in field sobriety testing to ensure that he was safe to drive, the man declined. He was then placed under arrest and charged with a Crosswalk Violation and DUI.

While on patrol, officers received notification from a license plate reader that there was a stolen vehicle on the island. After locating the vehicle, officers confirmed that it had been reported stolen and prepared to perform a traffic stop. As the officers activated their lights and sirens, the suspect vehicle accelerated rapidly, almost striking several pedestrians in the process. As an officer stopped to check on the innocent bystanders, he lost sight on the vehicle, giving the bad guy just enough time to slip away. After canvassing the area to no avail, it was decided that the suspect had fled the island.

____________________________

While conducting an unrelated accident investigation, one of our officers was approached by concerned citizens, who reported being accosted by a drunk woman demanding money. While checking the area, the officer encountered two ladies who informed him that there was a stranger asleep in their condo. According to the pair, the woman had walked past them without saying a word, before crashing on the couch. After taking a look for themselves, the officers found the woman snoozing on the sofa. The unwanted guest was then placed under arrest and charged with Public Drunkenness.

While on patrol, one of our officers spotted a golf cart driving on Highway 80 in violation of local ordinance. After stopping the cart, the officer leanred that the driver’s license was suspended. He was then placed under arrest and charged accordingly.

___________________________

Later that same day, officers responded to the area of the “Back River” in reference to a report of underage drinking. As one of our officers approached, a group of teens suddenly decided that it was time to leave. After being ordered to stop, the group ran from the scene…directly into the waiting arms of another officer that they’d never even seen. After cornering them on the Fisherman’s Walk pier, officers cited the group and poured out all of their beer. They then stood by on scene while parents came to collect each of their teens.

While on patrol, one of our officers spotted a vehicle failing to maintain its lane. After conducting a traffic stop, the officer learned that the driver’s license was suspended. He was then placed under arrest and charged accordingly.