Public safety summary
A Savannah man has been charged with criminal attempt-murder after police say he took a friend’s car and struck a Savannah-Chatham police officer Wednesday night.
Sean Andrew Joint, 26, of a Steeple Run Way address, was arrested by metro officers who rescued him from the car as it was sinking in a water-filled drainage ditch on Hunter Army Airfield property about 10:30 p.m. He was treated at Memorial University Medical Center and is being held at the Chatham County jail.
The incident began after a minor, one-vehicle accident on the 5700 block of White Bluff Drive, said Julian Miller, police spokesman.
Joint, a passenger in that car, drove away in another car belonging to an acquaintance who came to help him.
Two officers, including the advanced police officer he struck with the car, were treated for injuries and five others underwent decontamination after entering the foliage-laden water to retrieve him. The APO struck by the car was hospitalized.
Other responding officers entered the water to remove him from the sinking vehicle. One officer cut his hand after helping Joint up the muddy bank and falling back onto the car.
Savannah-Chatham police violent crimes detectives, assisted by its Major Accident Investigation Team officers, continue to investigate.
Joint on Thursday was ordered to remain in jail pending an Aug. 29 preliminary hearing.
Assistant District Attorney Tom Cerbone told Chatham County Recorder’s Court Judge Harris Odell Jr. the state opposed bond for Joint explaining that additional felony charges would be filed against him.
Odell denied bond but set a preliminary hearing date.
Savannah fugitive caught in Long County
A Savannah man wanted for federal supervised release violation was arrested Thursday in Long County by the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Long County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Department of Corrections K-9 unit.
Wesley Mark Miller, 32, of Savannah was wanted by the U.S. Marshals for federal supervised release violation based on a 2003 methamphetamine conviction, said Tommy Long, marshals spokesman. Miller was convicted in 2003 for conspiracy to manufacture, possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, Long said. He was sentenced to a 120-month sentence to be followed by five years of supervised release.
Miller’s supervised release was previously revoked in April 2012, Long said. His current supervised release term began in September 2012. The current violation warrant stemmed from an incident that happened July 13 in Effingham County when deputies conducted a traffic stop and, as the deputy walked up to the window, Miller sped off, Long said.
A chase ensued and Miller ended up losing control of the vehicle and crashed into several utility poles, Long said.
Miller was taken to Memorial University Medical Center with numerous injuries. At some time during his medical treatment, Long said, Miller left the hospital and has been on the run ever since.
The federal warrant was issued on Aug. 8, and an extensive investigation was conducted to locate Miller.
Leads were generated that led to a possible location off Marcus Noble Road in Long County. Law enforcement officials went to a trailer in that county and arrested Miller without incident, Long said. Miller was transported to the Liberty County to await his court proceedings.
Longtime fugitive captured on Tybee
U.S. Marshals on Thursday captured a fugitive wanted in Waycross on Tybee Island.
Mark Ashley Griffin, 37, was wanted on a 2006 warrant for failure to surrender to serve a sentence and for violating his bond after he was convicted in Waycross for conspiracy to distribute, possession with intent to distribute, and manufacture in excess of 50 grams of crack cocaine, said U.S. Marshals spokesman Tommy Long.
Griffin was sentenced to serve 110 months in federal prison in 2005. He was allowed to self-surrender to the federal prison in Jesup in January 2006, but failed to do so and has been on the run since.
Marshals, aided by Tybee Island police officers, found him Thursday in an apartment on Izlar Street where he was using the alias Dave Van Guard. Long said Griffin had grown out his hair and dyed it blond, covered his distinctive tattoos with new tattoos and worked on a cash basis.
An anonymous tip was received by the marshals indicating Griffin was in the area of 16th and 17th Streets on Tybee, Long said. Marshals set up surveillance in the area and observed Griffin come out of the Izlar address. He was then arrested without incident.
Griffin was transported to the McIntosh County jail to await his court appearance on the outstanding charges, Long said.
Police academy cadets to raise funds for animal shelter
Police recruits with the Garden City Georgia Public Safety Training Center will gather at the Savannah-Chatham Animal Control Center today to collect donations, foods, or other essentials for the animals currently housed there.
Dubbed Cadets for Critters, the members of Class 269 will be at the shelter off Sallie Mood Drive from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Along with taking donations, they will sell hot dogs for $1 each with the money benefitting the animals.
There are currently 81 dogs and 79 cats living in the facility, police spokesman Julian Miller said.
The animal control center is allocated funds for food and supplies for the animals during the time they are required to be held before adoption or euthanization, but many animals are not adopted during those times. The additional food and supplies enable the animal control staff to maintain the dogs and cats longer to facilitate the adoptions.
In addition to cash, cadets also hope to collect donations of meat-flavored baby food, dog treats (peanut butter, cheese, rawhides and pigs ears); dry or canned puppy or kitten food (Pedigree preferred), flea and tick shampoos, towels of any size, combs and nail clippers, dog and cat toys, new or gently used crates, puppy milk replacement, bleach, laundry or dish soap, disinfectant wipes, paper towels or gift cards to Petsmart, Kinkos, Wal-Mart or any pet superstore or print shop.
Delays expected over weekend on Diamond Causeway due to paving
Georgia Department of Transportation contractors Saturday and Sunday will pave an intersection on the Diamond Causeway, likely causing delays in the area.
From 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days workers will pave the intersection of Diamond Causeway where it joins with Whitefield Avenue at Ferguson Avenue, weather permitting.
The paving operation will impact motorist with delays at the intersection. Police will be used to direct traffic through the work zone and motorist should expect delays.
Compiled by Josh Rayburn, Jan Skutch, Corey Dickstein and Dash Coleman