Man Caught Stealing Electricity

Officials with Aiken Electric Cooperative and the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office responded to 810 Briggs Rd. in North Augusta (Edgefield County), Friday, Mar. 14, in regards to someone stealing electricity.  At the location, it was determined that the resident had manipulated the meter so as to “jump the power” so he could steal electricity.  Aiken Electric officials did confiscate the meter and cut the power off at the road.  A call to Aiken Electric at press time determined that it has not yet known whether or not Aiken Electric will pursue charges against this resident.

Man Found Hiding in Closet

The Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance at a residence on Eagle Rd., Saturday, Mar. 15, after a call came into dispatch that two women were hiding in a bathroom from a boyfriend of one of the women.  At the time of the dispatch call, the ECSO was notified that the man was suspected of hiding in a back room at the home.  Upon arrival, deputies found the man sitting in a closet in a back room of the house with the lights turned off.  Deputies secured the man and noticed a strong smell of alcohol about him and found a pocket knife in his pants pocket.

An investigation at the scene determined that a female friend of the residents on Eagle Rd. had fled to the home the preceding night to escape her boyfriend, the man found hiding in the closet, after he allegedly assaulted her the previous night in Aiken County.  The man admitted to deputies that came to the residence via a motorcycle on Saturday looking for his girlfriend; a male resident of the home allowed him entrance.  According to the ECSO report, no assault occurred while at the Eagle Rd. location although there were visible signs of injuries to the woman’s neck that she maintained was a result of the assault that occurred in Aiken County.  The woman was advised she would have to notify Aiken County Sheriff’s Office to file a report on that incident.

A records check on the man, a Belvedere resident, determined he was suspended in Georgia and was wanted in Grovetown, Georgia, for a parole violation.  He was arrested and charged for having no SC driver’s license and was also put on trespass notice from the Eagle Rd. location.  His motorcycle was towed, and he was transported to the Edgefield County Detention Center without incident.

Guns Stolen

Over $3,000 dollars worth of guns were reported stolen from a residence on Freeland Drive in North Augusta (Edgefield County) over the weekend.  According to a report with the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office, the homeowner stated he returned to his home Saturday, Mar. 15, to find a side door to the home open and his rear screened-in porch cut open.  Inside he determined that a total of 4 guns were missing from his gun cabinet; a 1940 22 long rifle, a 30-06 rifle with a scope, a semi-automatic 12 gauge shotgun, and a semi-automatic 20 gauge shotgun.  In all, the guns were estimated to be valued at over $3,000.  The investigation into this crime is ongoing.