In the early morning hours of Sunday, 09/05/2021, one of our officers was on patrol in the area of Butler Avenue near 12th Street, when he heard people arguing loudly nearby. While investigating further, the officer saw a woman fall backwards on the sidewalk and a man walking away. After making contact with the pair, the officer learned that they were brother and sister. He also noted that the woman appeared highly intoxicated and that the man had been apparently attempting to help her walk back to their house. The officer then helped get the woman back on her feet, and the pair once again began walking away together. As the officer watched, the woman suddenly hit her brother several times on his body and head. The officer then approached the pair, at which time the woman knocked the glasses off of her brother’s head and walked away. As the officer attempted to catch up to the woman, he told her several times to “stop”, which she ignored. The officer then grabbed the woman, at which point she swung her purse and hit the officer in his side. At that time, the officer placed her on the ground and attempted to put her in handcuffs. As he did so, the woman continued to struggle, kicking the officer in the process. Once under arrest, the woman was charged with Public Drunkenness, Disorderly Conduct, Obstruction and Simple Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer.
Later that same date, officers responded to the area of Butler Avenue and Shirley Road in reference to a dog locked inside of a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers noted that there did not appear to be any water inside and the dog was panting heavily. A check of the interior temperature of the vehicle registered as 112°F. Our team then contacted the Tybee Island Fire Department, who were able to unlock the vehicle without causing damage. The dog was then removed and transported to the Tybee Island Police Department to cool off. Sometime later, the owner came forward to claim their dog and was issued a citation for Animal Confinement.
During the early morning hours of Monday, 09/06/202, one of our our officers was on patrol in the area of Butler Avenue when he used his Radar device to check a vehicle’s speed at 48 mph in a 30 mph zone. At the same time, the officer noticed that the vehicle was drifting over the double yellow line separating the north and southbound lanes of travel. After the officer turned on his lights and siren, the vehicle turned into the parking lot of Funky Fish, driving over the curb and sidewalk in the process. After bringing the vehicle to a stop, the driver stepped out. At that time, the officer noted that the man was visibly unsteady on his feet and had an odor similar to that of an alcoholic drink coming from his person. When the officer asked him if he was willing to participate in tests to ensure he was capable of operating the vehicle safely, the man declined. Around this same time, a female passenger spoke up indicating that they would “just get a lawyer” and that the man “wouldn’t take any tests”. The driver was subsequently placed under arrest and charged with Speeding, Failure to Maintain Lane and Driving Under the Influence.
Earlier this month, our officers responded to at least two separate reports of a suspicious man who had been seen stealing towels from Hotel Tybee and “squatting” in rooms which were supposed to be vacant without paying for his stay. During the course of those investigations, officers were able to obtain images of the suspect from surveillance cameras and a “Be on the Lookout” was issued to our staff. In response, officers began to conduct extra patrols and a neighborhood canvass, during which they showed the surveillance images to locals in the area in case the man was spotted. On 09/11/2021, those efforts paid off when officers received a tip that the man they were looking for had been spotted in the area of the Tybee Island Pier. After responding to the area, officers made contact with the man, who initially gave them a fake name and date of birth. After the man's real identity, our team placed him under arrest. It was then learned that the man had warrants for his arrest from several other states, including one for escaping a psychiatric facility in Maryland. He was subsequently charged with Giving False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer and Burglary before being transported to the Chatham County Detention Center, where a hold was placed for extradition.
Arrests: 8
Citations: 22
Calls for Service: 108
Officer Initiated: 160
Sunday (9/5): 11,732 (ON) / 11,916 (OFF)
Monday (9/6): 8,836 (ON) / 11,111 (OFF)
Tuesday (9/7): 6,623 (ON) / 6,908 (OFF)
Wednesday (9/8): 6,288 (ON) / 6,208 (OFF)
Thursday (9/9): 6,502 (ON) / 6,138 (OFF)
Friday (9/10): 8,525 (ON) / 7,594 (OFF)
Saturday (9/11): 9,915 (ON) / 9,591 (OFF)
Dog on the Beach: 16
Glass on the Beach: 10
Littering: 3
Disturbing the Dunes: 1
Dog at Large: 2