Oconee Blotter: Thieves hit multiple cars in Bishop neighborhood

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office reported the following incidents:

SHOPLIFTER APOLOGIZES: On Nov. 15, Deputy Seth McCart was dispatched to Walmart, where a 39-year-old Bishop woman was being detained for shoplifting some deodorant and toilet cling gel. The woman apologized for her behavior and offered to pay for the merchandise. However, she was taken to jail.

UNIT ENTERED: On Nov. 15, Deputy Seth McCart and Sgt. Sonyia Wallace-Burcehtt were dispatched to a storage unit on Mars Hill Road, Bogart, where thieves broke off a padlock to enter the unit. The thieves stole $3,265 worth of materials, mostly items used in a soap making business that included several stainless-steel pots, scales, soap tools, air compressor and a blender.

GROUP SHOPPING: On Nov. 16, Deputy Seth McCart was dispatched to Walmart where a group of five people working together were trying to steal $373 worth of merchandise. Three woman, ages 25, 36, and 22, and two men, ages 28 and 18, were caught concealing and skip scanning items. All five were from Athens and transported to the jail in Watkinsville.

DRIVER ARRESTED: On Nov. 19, Deputy Annessa Glenn was patrolling on Experiment Station Road shortly after 3 a.m. when she saw a truck pulling a trailer that crossed over the lane into oncoming traffic. After a stop she discovered the 32-year-old driver from Cottondale, Ala., did not have a driver’s license as it was revoked in 2020. The man was taken to jail.

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DUI CHARGED: On Nov. 22, Deputy Boris Argueta was patrolling at the Oconee Connector after 2 a.m. when he stopped for a vehicle he saw at a car wash. A man said he and his girlfriend were both from Starkville, Miss., and not familiar with the area. The deputy ran their license plate, but nothing returned. The officer left then learned the tag on the car belonged to another vehicle. He located the car again and made a traffic stop. As he got out to speak to the driver, the car began driving off, but Deputy Johnny Richard arrived and shouted for it to stop. The car stopped and the man, who was the passenger, volunteered that the car was purchased by his girlfriend, but she couldn’t get a tag because the car was reported stolen in Birmingham, Ala. The 22-year-old woman smelled of alcohol and began yelling as she was upset at the situation. She was eventually charged with DUI and affixing a tag to conceal the identity of a vehicle.

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BISHOP CRIME: On Nov. 23, several deputies were dispatched to Bishop for a series of at least six entering auto crimes. The thefts occurred on Glen Lane, Townside Drive and Roberta Drive. Home security cameras captured videos of suspects stopping at vehicles in the predawn hours and removing items. Among the items stolen were a purse with numerous credit cards, a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol, and a voltage meter.

WANTED MAN: On Nov. 23, Deputy Dustin Mines received a FLOCK alert that a vehicle associated with a wanted man had entered Oconee County. The deputy parked on the median of Highway 316 and spotted the GMC Sierra pass him. A traffic stop was made and the 25-year-old Jefferson man was arrested. He was wanted in Oconee County for assault and trespassing charges and in Jackson County for aggravated assault.

HOSTILE MAN: On Nov. 23, Deputy Dustin Mines was on patrol about 11:30 p.m. when Sgt. Pat Holl notified him of a speeding car on Highway 316. The deputy spotted the car and estimated its speed at 100 mph. He fell in behind the car, which slowed to 77 mph. After a stop, the deputy smelled alcohol on the 28-year-old Jonesboro man, but he explained to the officer that he “was fine to drive.” The man, who confessed to drinking two beers, was unsteady on his feet, and had bloodshot eyes. He was charged with DUI, but at the jail he became hostile with an officer and had to be placed in restraints.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Oconee Blotter: Walmart shoplifting suspects nabbed red handed