The following are highlights of the various incidents that were handled by officers with the Baxley Police Department over the past several days as reported by Chief James Godfrey.

On May 21 at approximately 2:52 a.m. while officers were checking businesses discovered that a window had been knocked out at Southern Express located on N. Blvd. Investigation revealed that no one had entered the business and nothing was reported missing at report time.

May 23 at approx. 3:50 p.m., answered a call to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifting. On arrival officers met with the L. P.C. officer who had a subject detained for taking two bottles of perfume without paying for them. Arrested in connection with this incident was a Lonyea L. Chappell, age 21, of a Baxley address on charges of one count theft by shoplifting.

May 23 at approx. 4:00 p.m., met with owner of Joe’s Quick Stop on Bay Street in reference to his business receiving several forged checks. A brief investigation led to the arrest of Gregory Lavon Paulk, 25, of a Baxley address on charges of four counts of forgery in the first degree.

May 25 at approx. 11:20 a.m., met with the owner of Southern Express on N. Blvd. in reference to a broken window. Investigation revealed that person(s) unknown knocked the window out to gain entry, and once inside trashed the business along with removing several assorted packages of beer and other consumable items, such as crackers, honey buns, pecan spin wheel cakes, etc. Further investigation led officers to a wooded area where the burglars has stashed most of the stolen items. After the officer canvassed the area and found no one, they returned the recovery items back to the store owner.

May 26 at approx. 12:03 p.m., met with complainant at a Harry Street address in reference to a theft. The complainant told officers that person(s) unknown had entered her home and removed several pieces of jewelry. The missing jewelry is described as; two wedding ring sets, two pink ice rings, one ruby ring, one sapphire ring, one cluster ring, two Avon mother rings, one cocktail ring and a gold ring with Appling County Hospital on it.

May 27 at approx. 7:42, met with the complainant at a Holmesville Ave. address in reference to person(s) unknown removing two dogs that were tied behind the home. The missing dogs are described as follows; a multi-colored American Bulldog, who answers to the name of Roxanne, and a red nose bulldog who answers to the name of Bruiser.

May 29 at approx. 8:00 a.m., met with owner of Kauger’s Insurance Company located on S. Main Street in reference to person(s) unknown burglarizing his business. Investigation revealed that person(s) unknown had broken into Shear Designs Hair Salon next door to his business and then tore through a section of the wall that divides the businesses making an entrance into his business. Further investigation led to the arrest of Stephen Matthew Kauger, 29, and Joseph B. Stone, 43, both of Baxley on charges of two counts of burglary.

May 29 at approx. 4:24 p.m., met with complainant at Fast Trac Enterprises located on West Parker Street in reference to a theft. The complainant told officers that person(s) unknown had removed a golf cart from the front of his business. The golf cart is described as a 2001 gas powered cart, was white in color, with white rims and new tires. The cart has been lifted up for ground clearance. It has no windshield, but has a new brush guard and round head lights. The cart has a new black storage box on the back and has red tail lights that are round also. The stolen cart has been entered on the GCIC network.

May 29 at approx. 8:14 p.m. while officers were on patrol, they observed a male subject that they had received a call on earlier. While the officers were detaining the subject to check on his welfare, discovered that he had a speech impediment, which they soon found out the subject had stashed a small bag of marijuana inside his mouth. The subject surrendered the marijuana to the officers without incident. Arrested in connection with this incident was Tommy Wayne Hopkins, 36, of Baxley on charges of one count poss. of marijuana.

June 1 at approx. 10:16 p.m., in attempts to curb the illegal sale of alcohol observed two subjects leaving the Express Convenience Store on Blackshear Hwy with what appeared to be two bags of beer. Upon the officers stopping the subjects to inquire, discovered 12 cans of cold beer in each bag that the two had just purchased from the store. The officers then went to the store where they confronted and questioned the operator about the incident. The operator a Kunjal Patel, 30, of a Hazlehurst address was charged with two counts of sale of alcohol on Sundays in connection with this incident.

June 3 at approx. 9:03 p.m., answered a call to the B&F Restaurant on West Parker Street in reference to a robbery. On arrival officers met with the complainant who told officers a subject had went behind the counter, opened the cash register, and removed approx. $500.00 in cash and left. A lookout was posted to other responding units and in just a few minutes the offender’s car was spotted abandoned on a nearby street. The K-9 unit from Reidsville was called in to assist in tracking the subject. After a short search of the area the offender was spotted and taken into custody, where she was then transported to Appling HealthCare System for evaluation of a possible drug overdose, after she told officers she had taken a quantity of pills. Once at the hospital the offender became upset and very combative with the officer, and had to be physically subdued, by assistance from the medical staff at the hospital. The offender was then evaluated by the medical staff and released back to the officer who then placed her in custody. Arrested in connection with this incident was Shauna Eden Pearson, 28, of Baxley on charges of one count each of robbery and obstruction of a police officer.

June 6 at approx. 2:00 p.m., answered a call to Citi Trends on S. Main Street in reference to shoplifting. On arrival the officers met with the clerk who had several female subjects detained outside the business in connection with a shoplifting incident. The officers discovered that the offender who had stolen the items was not in the group but had already fled the area on foot. A lookout was posted to other units, who searched the area for the offender, but were unable to locate her. The stolen clothing articles were recovered from the vehicle and returned to the store. Warrants have been secured for the arrest of the offender, Vernice Lashawn Hill, 24, of Waycross on charges of one count shoplifting and one count of obstruction of a police officer. While the responding officers were searching the area for the shoplifter, another subject was taken into custody from an Oak Street address. The officers came up on the subject who was sitting outside smoking marijuana. The subject Erwin Danny Reeves, 56, of Lumber City, was arrested for one count possession of marijuana.

June 7 at approx. 11:00 a.m., answered a call to the Country Convenience store located on East Parker Street in reference to property damage. On arrival officers observed a 1994 Ford Explorer had apparently collided into the building. The driver of the vehicle a Natasha Douglas of Baxley told officers that when she was pulling into the parking area her brakes failed and she was unable to stop and struck the building. Further investigation led officers to discover that the registration on the Explorer was suspended. The driver was cited for these violations in this incident.

June 8 at approx. 11:02 p.m., answered a call to Apt. 617 Clay Homes on Brobston Street in reference to a fight. On arrival officers discovered that the occupants had been in a physical altercation. Arrested in connection with this incident was Chancey Vann Williams, 29, of Baxley and Yulanda Travett Sanders, 29, of Hazlehurst on charges of one count each of disorderly conduct-fighting.

June 11 at approx. 7:35 a.m., met with a complainant on Rogers Street in reference to a subject being disorderly and threatening to shoot everyone. Officers encountered the subject on Rogers Street, who was intoxicated and disorderly. The subject was detained by officers and after a pat down they recovered a Taurus 9mm pistol from off his person that was concealed. Arrested in connection with this incident was Tony Lee Gillis, 44, on charges of one count each of disorderly conduct/public intoxication and carrying an concealed weapon.

June 11, recovered the golf cart that was reported stolen on May 29. As a result of the recovery and further investigation Shawn Robert Ruff, 18, of Marietta, was arrested and charged with one count of theft by taking. The golf cart was returned back to the owner.

June 11 at approx. 4:30 p.m., met with complainant at C&C Furniture on N. Blvd. On arrival the complainant told officers that person(s) unknown had removed her purse from her vehicle, while she was inside picking up some items. The purse was black in color and contained her checkbook,an AT&T Moto Razrcell phone, and other misc. items.

June 13 at approx. 1:42 p.m., answered a call to Murray’s Express on S. Main Street in reference to a gas drive off. On arrival officers discovered that a subject had pumped $57.49 worth of gas and the laid the nozzle down and drove off without paying for it. A brief investigation led to the subject’s identity and address. A lookout was posted to other units and the authorities in Bacon County. In just a short time the subject, Cecil Kevin Godwin, 30, of Alma, was stopped and detained by Bacon County authorities and transported back to our jurisdiction, where he was charged with one count theft by shoplifting/gas drive off.

June 16 at approx. 11:12 p.m., met with complainant at a S. Main Street address in reference to a robbery. The complainant told officers that when he opened his door to go outside two black males wearing masks rushed at him, and struck him 4-5 times in the face and knocking him to the ground, and then one of the subjects held him down while the other one grabbed his wallet, and then fled the area on foot. At approx. 11:55 p.m., while officers were canvassing the area in connection with the robbery, they detained a male subject walking in the area for identity purposes. The subject was extremely nervous and tried to evade the officers by walking off and disobeying their lawful commands. The officers attempted to restrain the subject which led to a struggle with the subject that led to him having to be physically restrained. After a pat down for the officers’ safety a small bag of marijuana was seized. Arrested in connection with this incident was Clevie George Williams, Jr., 22, of Twin City, on charges of one count each of obstruction of a police officer and poss. of marijuana.

June 19 at approx. 10:38 p.m., answered a call to Southern Express on N. Blvd. in reference to an attempted robbery. On arrival the clerk told officers that she had closed up the store and was going to her vehicle to leave when she was confronted by a b/m subject who displayed a knife and demanded money. After the clerk told the subject she had no money, he turned and fled the area on foot. A lookout was posted to responding units from the Appling County Sheriff’s Office. The K-9 Unit from Reidsville was called in an attempts to track the subject but to no avail. The subject is described as a b/m approx. 5 ft. 2 in. to 5 ft. 5 in., approx. 135 lbs. to 145 lbs. He was wearing black shorts and had a black shirt wrapped around his face. Anyone who has any information to the identity of this subject is urged to contact the nearest local law enforcement as soon as possible.

Chief of Police James Godfrey would like to ask that if anyone has any knowledge of these crimes or any other crimes to please contact the Baxley Police Department, the Appling County Sheriff’s Office, the Ga. Bureau of Investigation or the Altamaha Drug Task Force. All information will be kept confidential.