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Chatham County District Attorney Meg Heap announced Thursday that Wendell Louis Buxton Jr., 23, and Anthony Leonard Stephens, 21, have pleaded guilty to their involvement in the armed robbery of a Norfolk Southern employee in 2010.
Buxton pleaded on Feb. 23 and Stephens on Thursday. Each man received the sentence of 10 years in prison without the possibility of parole.
On May 31, 2010, a Norfolk Southern employee was conducting a flag test on the railway lines near Louisville Road. He was approached by two men wearing bandanas. The pair demanded his money and forced him into the woods beside the tracks at gunpoint.
There, they forced him to lie on the ground and robbed him of his wallet, his watch and railroad-issued radio, according to a press release from Heap’s office.
As they fled the scene, the duo instructed the victim to remain on the ground for 30 minutes or he would be shot and killed. The victim’s credit cards were later used at various locations around Savannah.
Using video obtained from these locations, police were able to identify and question the card user, who identified the perpetrators of the crime as Buxton and Stephens.
The State was represented by Assistant District Attorney Christy Barker and the detective was Special Agent Herbster of the Norfolk Southern Railroad Police Department.
Shamrock Run to affect downtown traffic this evening
Traffic downtown will be affected Friday when roads close for the Shamrock Run, Savannah-Chatham police announced Monday.
The run starts at 6 p.m. today. At 5 p.m., roads at the starting line near Ellis Square will be closed. Police will close roads along the route as needed.
The race starts at Congress and Jefferson streets, goes south on Jefferson Street to York Street, east on York to Bull Street, south on Bull to Gaston Street, west on Gaston to Whitaker Street, south on Whitaker to Park Avenue, east on Park to Drayton Street, north on Drayton to Gaston, west on Gaston back to Bull, north on Bull to Congress Street, east on Congress to Drayton, north on Drayton to Bryan Street, west on Bryan to Bull, south on Bull to Congress, then west on Congress to the finish line on Barnard Street.
Roads will reopen to vehicle traffic as runners pass.
Port Wentworth police ask for help locating wanted persons
Port Wentworth police are asking for the public’s help locating two people suspected of aggravated assault and one person suspected of theft.
Junice Carter, 28, and Antonio Walker, 20, are wanted on suspicion of aggravated assault, said Port Wentworth police Sgt. Steven Holmes.
Amy Rebecca Sanders, 35, is wanted for theft, he said.
Holmes asks that anyone with information on the whereabouts of Carter, Walker or Sanders call the Port Wentworth police department at 912-964-4360 or CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020.
Space heater blamed for afternoon fire
A space heater is being blamed for a mid-afternoon house fire in Savannah.
Savannah Fire & Emergency Services firefighters were dispatched to 1221 E. 49th St. about 3:30 p.m. Thursday on reports of smoke and flames coming from the one-story, wood house, said Mark Keller, Savannah Fire spokesman. Firefighters observed smoke in the area as they arrived on the scene, where they discovered the entire back of the residence engulfed in flames, he said.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames quickly and contain the fire damage to the enclosed back porch. The main area of the house, as well as the attic, sustained smoke and limited water damage.
No one was home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries as a result of the blaze, Keller said. Savannah Fire investigators determined an unattended kerosene space heater is to blame for the fire, Keller said. Investigators say the space heater was left operational in close proximity to flammable materials. One person was displaced as a result of the fire, Keller said.
Savannah Fire reminds citizens to use extreme caution when operating any type of space heater in their homes and businesses, and offers these tips:
Use space heaters for only short periods of time. Always place space heaters at least three feet from anything that could potentially burn. Never leave space heaters unattended.
Never use any type of fuel-powered heating device inside a closed structure. Not only are they a fire safety threat, but propane- and kerosene-powered heaters emit carbon monoxide (an odorless gas) which can accumulate rapidly in an enclosed area and have deadly results. Never use gasoline in any space heater.
Savannah Fire offers free smoke detectors and installation for homeowners within the city of Savannah. Savannah firefighters also will perform home safety checks to help minimize fire dangers in the home. Contact Savannah Fire at 912-651-6756 to schedule either of these services.
Spring forward Sunday and replace your batteries
Savannah Fire & Emergency Services reminds people that Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, so they should set their clocks ahead one hour and change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
According to the International Association of Fire Chiefs, a home fire death occurs somewhere in the nation approximately every three hours, and 80 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke alarms, said Savannah Fire spokesman Mark Keller.
The IAFC has used it Change Your Clock, Change your Batteries campaign for 24 years, Keller said, because it is the simplest way to ensure devices are working correctly if they are ever needed.
Keller said it’s also a good time to practice home fire escape drills.
Savannah Fire recommends that residents practice the same battery check and home fire escape drill when the fall time change takes place, he added.
Savannah Fire provides free home fire safety inspections and free smoke detectors to Savannah residents that firefighters install free of charge. Savannah residents in need of a smoke detector in their home can call 912-651-6756 to make necessary arrangements.
Compiled by Dash Coleman, Josh Rayburn, and Corey Dickstein.